The United States government has cautioned foreign content creators and social media influencers that generating income from content made while in the country on a tourist visa could lead to deportation.

The warning was issued ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In an email statement to Spanish news agency EFE on Wednesday, US Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security said foreign nationals who enter under a tourist programme and receive income from a US source violate their admission terms.

The agencies said creating content as the sole purpose of the visit and earning income from US sources is considered work, that activity requires the appropriate work visa.

“Having the sole purpose of the visit be content creation (as an influencer), thereby generating income from U.S. sources while in the country, is considered work and requires the appropriate visa,” they said.

CBP stated that the B-2 tourist visa covers leisure, vacations, family visits, or medical treatment and does not permit paid work or income from activities performed on US soil.

Visa holders also cannot stay beyond the period granted at entry and breaching these conditions can trigger immediate visa cancellation, deportation, and future travel bans.

The rule applies to creators monetising content on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

CBP added that working for a media outlet on a tourist visa is also prohibited.

Immigration lawyer Alex Galvez told EFE that foreign nationals who violate entry conditions risk losing their tourist visa.

He said influencers might have grounds for a legal challenge if their accounts are registered in their home countries and payments are received outside the US.

The advisory comes as the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, is expected to draw many independent creators covering the tournament.

Visa concerns extend beyond influencers as the International Sports Press Association last week raised alarm over visa restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on some of its members who were denied entry into the country.

The US also denied entry to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan before the tournament.

In June 2025, Senegalese-Italian TikToker Khaby Lame, who has 162 million followers, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Las Vegas airport and self-deported after allegedly overstaying his visa.

ICE confirmed it will handle security at World Cup venues as part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement approach. (The Nation)

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