President Donald Trump's administration is considering requiring some immigrants seeking U.S. green cards through American consulates overseas to post refundable bonds of roughly $100,000, a proposal that would significantly raise the financial threshold for legal immigration if implemented.
The proposal, now under review by the U.S. State Department, has not been finalized or formally introduced as a regulation. Officials are examining whether existing authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act would allow consular officers to require certain immigrant visa applicants to provide large financial bonds as proof they can support themselves without relying on public assistance.
The discussions represent the latest effort by the Trump administration to tighten legal immigration standards, building on policies that emphasize financial self-sufficiency as a condition for entering the United States. While the bond proposal is expected to begin as a limited pilot involving a small number of countries, officials are reportedly considering expanding it more broadly if the program proves successful.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed the administration's broader objective but did not comment on the reported $100,000 figure.
"President Trump has made clear that those who wish to immigrate to the United States must be financially self-sufficient," Pigott said in a statement.
He added that the department is evaluating whether existing law allows officials to require immigrant visa applicants to post a bond "as a way to demonstrate they have access to the funds needed to support themselves."
The proposal would primarily affect individuals applying for immigrant visas abroad-the pathway that allows foreign nationals to become lawful permanent residents upon entering the United States. The State Department issues roughly half a million immigrant visas annually, with most going to immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, including spouses, parents and siblings.
According to reports, the bond would be refundable and held for at least five years, until an immigrant becomes eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. If recipients later rely on certain forms of public assistance or fail to satisfy other program conditions, the government could retain the money. Family members already living in the United States could potentially provide the bond on behalf of applicants.
Immigration attorneys argue the proposal would create a significant financial hurdle for many families seeking legal immigration.
Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, head of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said the policy would fundamentally change who can realistically pursue permanent residence.
"The goal of bonds is, it seems, to keep out a certain type of immigrant," Dalal-Dheini said. "We're making our system pay-to-play: only the wealthy can come visit, or reunite with family, or seek a better life for themselves."
The bond proposal comes after the administration earlier this year halted immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan, Nigeria and Brazil. Officials described that move as another effort to reduce migration from lower-income nations, and reports indicate the visa restrictions could remain in place even if the bond program moves forward.
The initiative also reflects a continuation of immigration policies championed by senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller, who has long advocated stricter standards for applicants considered likely to become a "public charge." During Trump's first term, the administration introduced the 2019 Public Charge Rule, directing immigration officials to evaluate applicants' finances, education, English proficiency and health when determining whether they might eventually depend on government assistance.
The State Department has already experimented with similar bond requirements for temporary visitors. Last August, officials launched a pilot program requiring some tourist visa applicants from Malawi and Zambia to post refundable bonds of up to $15,000, which could be forfeited if travelers overstayed their visas or sought to change their immigration status after arriving in the United States. The program has since expanded to approximately 50 countries, primarily in Africa.
According to officials familiar with the program, about 97% of travelers who posted those bonds complied with visa requirements and did not overstay. Critics, however, argue the initiative also significantly reduced the number of applicants receiving visas in the first place.
