NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, DC, July 16, 2026— The Trump administration is considering a proposal that would require some applicants seeking U.S. permanent residency from abroad to post refundable bonds of up to $100,000, according to multiple reports. The proposal has not been finalized and no new policy has been announced.
The proposal, reportedly being developed by the U.S. State Department, would apply to certain applicants for immigrant visas—the visas issued to people who become lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, upon entering the United States. It would not be a $100,000 application fee, as some social media posts have claimed. Instead, it would function as a bond, or financial guarantee, intended to demonstrate that an immigrant has sufficient financial resources and is unlikely to become dependent on public assistance.
According to the reports, the amount of the bond could vary by applicant and may be more or less than $100,000 depending on individual circumstances. Officials are also considering piloting the program in a limited number of countries before deciding whether to expand it.
People familiar with the discussions told The Wall Street Journal that applicants would likely receive the money back only after becoming U.S. citizens, a process that generally takes at least five years. Family members could also be allowed to post the bond on an applicant’s behalf.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that the department is exploring its legal authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to require certain visa applicants to post bonds.
“President Trump has made clear that those who wish to immigrate to the United States must be financially self-sufficient,” Pigott said, according to the report.
Immigrant visas are commonly used by close relatives of U.S. citizens—including spouses, parents and siblings—as well as by some employment-based immigrants who complete their permanent residency process through U.S. consulates overseas. The State Department typically issues hundreds of thousands of immigrant visas each year.
Immigration attorneys and advocacy groups have criticized the proposal, arguing that such a high bond could place legal immigration out of reach for many middle- and lower-income families, effectively limiting permanent immigration to wealthier applicants.
For Indian nationals, who account for one of the largest groups of employment-based and family-sponsored green card applicants, the proposal could have significant implications if implemented broadly. However, there is currently no indication that all Indian applicants—or all green card applicants—would be required to post such a bond. The proposal remains under discussion, and key details, including which applicants or countries would be covered, have not been finalized.
