Trump Administration Considers $100,000 Bond Option for Some Green Card Applicants

The Trump administration is evaluating a requirement that certain green card applicants post a $100,000 bond, The Hill reported. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration is exploring authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to require bonds from visa applicants likely to become a public charge.

The step aims to ensure immigrants are financially self-sufficient, he stated.

Pigott said the administration is working with the Department of Homeland Security to enforce immigration laws and protect public benefits programs. The bond would be collected from applicants or family members and returned later, according to the reporting. The administration previously attempted to impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications.

A federal judge struck down that fee, ruling the administration exceeded its authority. Standard fees remain far lower. Applicants inside the U.S. pay a $1,440 filing fee for Form I-485. Those applying from outside the U.S.

Pay a $325 DS-260 fee and a $235 USCIS Immigrant Fee after approval. Since last August, visa holders from Malawi and Zambia have posted a $15,000 bond that is forfeited if they overstay or apply for another status such as asylum. Fifty other African countries have been asked to comply with the policy.

Trump administration officials said the measure helped ensure 97 percent of visas did not overstay, though State Department officials noted a drop in visas granted. Pigott said expanding the bond program would give applicants with resources another option to demonstrate self-sufficiency.