Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 17
Vozinha's Mother Secures US Visa After $11,000 Fee Waived for Uruguay Match
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 17

Vozinha's Mother Secures US Visa After $11,000 Fee Waived for Uruguay Match

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 17

Summary

  • Sunday's Cape Verde-Uruguay World Cup game in Miami is set to reunite Vozinha with his mother after US officials waived the visa fees that had kept her from attending.
  • Around £11,000 in refundable visa costs had blocked the trip, a burden Vozinha highlighted after making seven saves in Cape Verde's 0-0 draw with Spain.
  • Hakeem Jeffries said he asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the State Department to act, and a US official said the visa team in Praia is now helping her secure travel.
  • Vozinha, 40, has become one of the tournament's breakout figures after his player-of-the-match display against Spain, which made him the oldest player to appear in a nation's World Cup debut.

Insights

How does the US reconcile its World Cup host role with strict visa policies that deter international fans?
Does one high-profile visa waiver signal a broader policy shift for travelers from nations facing US entry restrictions?