Trump Administration Weighs $100,000 Bonds For Some Green Card Applicants

The Trump administration is considering a new policy that would require certain green card applicants applying through U.S. consulates overseas to post refundable bonds of up to $100,000 as part of a broader effort to ensure new immigrants are financially self-sufficient.

According to officials familiar with the proposal, the bond amount would vary depending on the applicant’s circumstances and could be paid either by the applicant or a qualifying relative. If approved, the money would generally be refunded after the individual becomes a U.S. citizen, a process that typically takes at least five years.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said President Trump has made it clear that immigrants coming to the United States should be able to support themselves without relying on taxpayers. He confirmed the administration is exploring existing legal authority to implement the bond requirement.

The proposal would build on a pilot visa bond program launched in 2025 that required certain visitors from selected countries to post refundable bonds of up to $15,000. That program has since expanded to 50 countries and was designed to discourage visa overstays and abuse of the immigration system.

The discussions come as the Trump administration also revives the “public charge” rule, which allows immigration officials to consider whether green card applicants are likely to depend on government assistance such as Medicaid, food stamps, or housing benefits. Administration officials say both policies are intended to reinforce the principle of financial independence for legal immigrants.

The proposed bond requirement has not yet been finalized, and officials are reportedly considering testing the policy with a limited number of countries before deciding whether to expand it more broadly.