The United States (U.S) has launched a pilot program requiring certain prospective immigrants to post bonds of up to $250k to obtain immigrant visas, targeting applicants previously deemed likely to become a “public charge.”
The $250k visa bonds initiative, confirmed by U.S State Department officials, applies initially to select immigrant visa applicants from the Dominican Republic.
It takes effect immediately at the U.S Embassy in Santo Domingo and may expand to other countries later.
Under the program, consular officers can require applicants found ineligible solely on public charge grounds—meaning officials determined they are likely to rely on government-funded benefits—to post a bond with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
This allows them to overcome the inadmissibility finding and receive an immigrant visa if they otherwise qualify. Bond amounts are set case-by-case based on the applicant’s circumstances.
In cases processed this week, amounts have ranged from $100,000 to $250,000. Regulations set a minimum of $1,000 with no fixed maximum. The bond can be posted as cash or through a certified surety company.
“Generally, consular offices will have discretion to set bond amounts and will assess them on a case-by-case basis that considers ‘the applicant’s particular circumstances.’
“In some of the individual cases being processed this week, the bonds are being assessed in the range of $100,000 or $250,000.
“As part of this comprehensive initiative, the Department is implementing a long-standing legal authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to require certain visa applicants—those who are otherwise ineligible for a visa because they are likely to become a public charge—to post a bond as a way to tangibly demonstrate they have access to the funds needed to support themselves,” a state department official was quoted.
The department said the bonds are intended to “protect American public benefits programs from the financial burden of foreigners who arrive with major medical expenses or other needs.”
Defending the policy, the State Department described immigration to the United States as “a privilege, not a right.”
“Immigrating to the United States is a privilege, not a right. 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 official said.
“The Trump Administration is restoring the basic expectation that those who immigrate to the United States should contribute to our society more than they take from it. Under Secretary Rubio’s leadership, the Department of State is putting that principle into action.”
U.S officials said the programme would offer applicants previously denied visas on public charge grounds an opportunity to prove they can financially support themselves.
The bond may be cancelled after five years if the immigrant does not receive public cash assistance or long-term government-funded institutional care during that period.
The State Department said the Dominican Republic was selected for the pilot because of the “scope and scale” of immigrant visa operations at the U.S. embassy in Santo Domingo.
“Beginning Tuesday, these bond offers will be presented to ‘certain immigrant visa applicants’ who were previously found ineligible on the ‘public charge grounds.’
“U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will determine when the bond can be canceled or if its terms have been breached.
“The bond can also be canceled after the fifth anniversary of an immigrant’s admission provided the individual ‘did not receive either public cash assistance for income maintenance or long-term institutionalisation at government expense,’” the State Department was quoted as saying.
The announcement follows another immigration measure introduced by the President Donald Trump administration.
On August 3, the U.S had made permanent its visa bond programme requiring certain travellers from 50 countries, including Nigeria and 29 other African countries, to pay a refundable $20,000 bond before obtaining some categories of B1/B2 business and tourist visas.
Under that programme, travellers who comply with the conditions of their visas and leave the United States within the authorised period are entitled to refunds, while those who violate immigration rules risk forfeiting the bond.
