WASHINGTON—The Trump administration is considering a proposal that would require some people applying for U.S. permanent residency from abroad to post refundable bonds of up to $100,000, according to officials and people familiar with the discussions, in a move that would further tighten legal immigration requirements.
The proposal, which is being developed by the U.S. State Department in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, has not been finalized and remains under review. Officials are examining whether existing authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act would allow the government to require financial bonds from selected immigrant visa applicants processing their cases at U.S. consulates overseas.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration is exploring "commonsense and effective procedures" to ensure immigrants are financially self-sufficient, consistent with President Donald Trump's immigration agenda. According to officials, relatives in the United States could be permitted to post the bond on behalf of an applicant, and the money would generally be refundable after the immigrant becomes eligible for U.S. citizenship, a process that typically takes several years.
The proposal would initially apply only to certain applicants and could begin as a pilot program covering a limited number of countries, according to people familiar with the planning. Officials have not announced which countries or categories of applicants would be included if the measure is implemented.
The discussions follow other administration efforts aimed at emphasizing financial self-sufficiency among immigrants. Earlier this week, the administration announced it would reinstate a revised "public charge" rule allowing immigration officials to consider whether green card applicants are likely to become dependent on public assistance when making case-by-case decisions.
Immigration advocates criticized the proposed bond requirement, arguing it would create a financial barrier for lower-income families seeking lawful permanent residence and could disproportionately affect family-based immigration. They contend that Congress did not intend immigrant visa eligibility to depend on applicants' ability to provide large financial guarantees.
The administration has previously introduced bond requirements for certain temporary visitor visa applicants from selected countries, with bond amounts ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 under an existing State Department program. Officials say the green card proposal is separate and remains under development, with no implementation date announced.
