US President Donald Trump (Photo by ALEX WONG / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
The United States has announced a new pilot programme that will require some prospective immigrants to post bonds of up to $250,000 before they can obtain immigrant visas.
The new policy applies, with immediate effect, to certain immigrant visa applicants from the Dominican Republic who have been found ineligible on “public charge” grounds, while US officials indicate it will be expanded to other countries in the future.
This was announced in a report published by Washington Free Beacon on Wednesday and shared by US Department of State.
“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 department wrote while sharing the report.
The development comes days after the US made permanent its $20,000 visa bond programme for certain non-immigrant visa applicants from 50 countries, including Nigeria, aimed at reducing visa overstays.
The report cited the State Department as saying the latest programme targets prospective immigrants who were initially denied visas because officials believed they were likely to become dependent on government-funded welfare programmes.
“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,” the report said.
“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.”
US 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, PUNCH Online reported that the US 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.
The permanent scheme followed a 2025 pilot programme, which initially imposed visa bonds of up to $15,000 on selected non-immigrant visa applicants as part of efforts to discourage visa overstays.
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