U.S State Department considering $100,000 bonds on green-card applicants

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration is evaluating a potential six-figure bond to ensure immigrants are “financially self-sufficient” and “contribute to our society more than they take from it.”

“We are working closely with the Department of Homeland Security to introduce commonsense and effective procedures to enforce U.S. laws, restore the integrity of our immigration system, and protect American public benefits programs from the financial burden of foreigners who arrive with major expensive medical or other needs,” Pigott said in a statement to The Hill.

“As part of this comprehensive initiative, the Department is exploring the use of 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 become a public charge — to post a bond as a way to demonstrate they have access to the funds needed to support themselves,” he added.

President Trump and Republican lawmakers have been looking to crack down on illegal immigration through mass deportation measures in recent months and have recently introduced legislation to curb “birth tourism,” the practice of traveling to another country with the intention of giving birth there, which is considered rare.

Six-figure fees for entry have also been pegged as another measure to deny immigrants of a certain financial status.

The Trump administration previously attempted to impose a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, but the fee was ultimately struck down by a federal judge who said the administration exceeded its authority and that the fee usurped Congress’s power to set immigration policy and taxes.

H-1B visas allow employers to hire international talent for specialty jobs, particularly in the tech industry. Recipients are typically admitted to the U.S. for three years, but they are not lawful permanent residents, unlike green-card holders.

The traditional green-card application fee depends on the specific category and whether the applicant is applying from inside or outside the U.S.

The standard filing fee for Form I-485 is $1,440 for those applying within the country, but those who need to apply for a work permit and travel documents incur additional fees unless filed concurrently under specific conditions.

A $325 DS-260 visa application fee is traditionally paid by those applying from outside of the U.S. through the Department of State’s online Consular Electronic Application Center portal.

The payment is followed by a $235 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services immigrant fee to process their packet and produce their card after the visa is approved.

A $100,000 bond is a significant increase for those seeking permanent residency in the U.S.

Under the proposed policy, the Trump administration would collect payment from individuals or their family members in the U.S. and return the money at a later date.

Since last August, visa holders from Malawi and Zambia have been asked to post a $15,000 bond that would be forfeited if they overstay or apply for another immigration status after arriving, such as asylum, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Fifty other countries in Africa have been asked to comply with the policy, and Trump administration officials said it has helped to ensure that 97 percent of visa holders did not overstay, per the Journal.

However, State Department officials noted a drop in the number of visas granted.

Pigott said if the program was expanded, it would give “applicants who have the resources to pay their own way another option to demonstrate their self-sufficiency and qualify for a U.S. visa.”