The Trump administration is considering requiring select immigrant visa applicants to post a financial bond of up to $100,000 before receiving approval for US green cards. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, the proposal is still under discussion within the US State Department and no final decision has been taken. Officials are examining whether existing powers under the US Immigration and Nationality Act allow them to introduce such a requirement for select immigrant visa applicants.
Under the proposal being discussed, certain people applying for immigrant visas at US consulates overseas could be required to deposit a financial bond before receiving approval. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, people familiar with the discussions indicated that officials have considered setting the bond at $100,000, although the amount could vary depending on the applicant's circumstances. The bond would reportedly be refundable only after the individual becomes a US citizen, since naturalisation generally takes at least five years after obtaining permanent residency.
If introduced, the requirement would apply to select applicants seeking immigrant visas, which are issued to people planning to move permanently to the United States and obtain a green card after arrival. According to The Wall Street Journal, these visas are commonly used by immediate family members of US citizens, including spouses, parents and siblings, as well as some employment-based immigrants applying directly from outside the US. The proposal is also expected to allow family members living in the US to post the bond on behalf of applicants.
The proposal has drawn criticism from immigration lawyers, who argue that such a high financial requirement could make legal immigration difficult for middle-income and lower-income families. Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, head of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told The Wall Street Journal that the proposal could effectively turn the immigration system into one that favours wealthier applicants. Critics also argue that many prospective immigrants, particularly those applying through family sponsorship, may find it difficult to arrange such a large amount even if it is refundable later.
The proposed green card bond would build on an existing visa bond programme already being tested by the US government for certain tourist visa applicants. According to The Wall Street Journal, under that pilot programme, travellers from select countries have been asked to post refundable bonds of up to $15,000, which may be forfeited if they overstay their visas or violate visa conditions. The programme has since expanded to dozens of countries, and US officials have described it as successful in encouraging compliance with visa rules.
