The Trump administration has introduced a pilot program requiring some prospective immigrants to post bonds of up to $250,000 before they can receive a U.S. visa.
The program initially applies to certain immigrant visa applicants from the Dominican Republic who were previously found ineligible on “public charge” grounds. Consular officers in Santo Domingo began offering the bond option to select applicants this week.
Under the program, applicants considered likely to rely primarily on government assistance may be required to post a bond with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The bond is intended to demonstrate that the applicant has access to enough money to support themselves after arriving in the United States.
Bond amounts will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Some applicants reviewed this week have faced proposed bonds ranging from $100,000 to $250,000.
Federal regulations set a minimum bond of $1,000, while the law does not establish an upper limit. Applicants cannot start the bond process themselves.
Beginning Wednesday, consular officers were authorized to require eligible applicants in the Dominican Republic to post the bonds to overcome previous visa denials based on public charge concerns.
If USCIS approves the bond and the applicant meets the remaining visa requirements, a consular officer may issue a visa that had previously been denied under the public charge provision.
“Immigrating to the United States is a privilege, not a right,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said. “Those who seek to obtain that privilege must be capable of demonstrating that they will be a benefit – rather than a burden – to our nation.”
The State Department said it selected the Dominican Republic for the initial phase because of the size and scope of immigrant visa operations at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo. The department is coordinating the program with the Department of Homeland Security.
The bond remains in effect until USCIS determines that it can be canceled. That could occur after five years of lawful permanent residence if the immigrant has not received public cash assistance for income or long-term institutional care at public expense.
Violating the terms of the bond can result in the money being forfeited.
The new pilot follows other changes to U.S. visa policy. Earlier this week, the State Department finalized a separate bond program that can require some tourists and business travelers to pay as much as $20,000 to obtain temporary B visas.
Officials have indicated that the immigrant visa bond strategy could eventually be expanded beyond the Dominican Republic.