US weighs $100,000 bond for green card applicants

The Trump administration is examining a regulation that would require a $100,000 bond from permanent residency applicants. The State Department said the measure aims to ensure immigrants' financial independence.

Scraper SystemJuly 23, 2026, 10:10 PM

US weighs $100,000 bond for green card applicants

The U.S. State Department is considering a regulation that would require a $100,000 bond from green card (permanent residency) applicants.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott told The Hill that the administration is examining the bond option to ensure immigrants are "financially self-sufficient" and "contribute more to society than they take."

Pigott said, "In close cooperation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, we are working on reasonable and effective procedures to ensure compliance with American laws, restore the integrity of the immigration system, and protect public assistance programs from the financial burden posed by foreigners who arrive with costly medical or other needs."

The spokesperson stated that as part of this comprehensive initiative, they are exploring the option of requiring a bond from certain visa applicants who are deemed inadmissible due to the risk of becoming a public charge, using long-standing authorities under the Immigration and Nationality Act, to prove they can support themselves.

The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers have been ramping up measures against illegal immigration in recent months, focusing on mass deportations. They are also pushing legislation to restrict the practice known as "birth tourism," where individuals travel to another country to give birth, though it remains rare.

High entry fees are seen as a tool to limit access for immigrants of certain income levels. Previously, the Trump administration attempted to impose a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, but a federal court struck down the decision. The court ruled that the administration had overstepped its authority by usurping Congress's power to set immigration policy and levy taxes.

H-1B visas allow employers to hire skilled foreign professionals, particularly in the technology sector. Those who come on this visa typically gain the right to stay for three years, but unlike green card holders, they do not obtain permanent residency status.

Current green card application costs vary depending on the category and whether the applicant is inside or outside the U.S. The standard fee for the I-485 form filed from within the U.S. is $1,440. Additional fees apply when a work permit and travel document are required. Applicants from abroad pay a $325 visa fee for the DS-260 form through the State Department's Consular Electronic Application Center, followed by a $235 processing fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The $100,000 bond would significantly increase costs for permanent residency applicants. Under the proposed policy, the Trump administration would accept these payments from applicants or their relatives in the U.S. and later refund them.

Since August of last year, visa holders from Malawi and Zambia have been required to post a $15,000 bond. This amount is not refunded if the individual violates the terms of their stay or applies for another immigration status, such as asylum, after entry. Trump administration officials say the policy has ensured that 97% of visa holders do not overstay. Similar conditions have been imposed on 50 other African countries.

The State Department also notes a decline in the number of visas issued. Pigott said that if the program is expanded, it "will offer applicants who can support themselves an additional opportunity to prove their financial independence and obtain a U.S. visa."

US weighs $100,000 bond for green card applicants