Trump Administration Requires Bonds Up to $250,000 for Certain Immigrant Visa Applicants

Aug 5, 2026

The Trump administration has launched a pilot program requiring certain immigrant visa applicants from the Dominican Republic to post refundable bonds of $100,000 to $250,000. The initiative targets individuals initially denied visas on "public charge" grounds, allowing them to demonstrate financial self-sufficiency. This pilot runs alongside a newly permanent program requiring temporary visitors from 50 nations to post bonds of up to $20,000, reflecting a broader administration strategy to restrict immigration and protect public benefits.

Dominican Republic visa bond pilot

▪The Dominican Republic was selected for the pilot program due to the scope and scale of immigrant visa operations at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo.
▪The Trump administration launched a pilot program requiring certain immigrant visa applicants from the Dominican Republic to post refundable bonds to obtain a U.S. visa.

Public charge grounds eligibility

▪The pilot program targets prospective immigrants who were initially found ineligible for a U.S. visa on public charge grounds under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
▪The public charge designation applies to visa applicants who are deemed likely to become primarily dependent on the government or taxpayer-funded benefits.

Bond amounts up to $250,000

▪The immigrant visa bonds can be canceled after five years if the immigrant does not receive public cash assistance or long-term institutionalization at government expense.
▪The pilot program allows consular officers to require refundable bonds ranging from $100,000 to $250,000 for certain immigrant visa applicants.

Case-by-case bond assessment

▪U.S. consular offices will determine individual bond amounts on a case-by-case basis considering the applicant's particular circumstances.
▪U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will determine when the immigrant visa bonds can be canceled or if their terms have been breached.

Trump immigration enforcement strategy

▪The Trump administration made permanent a separate visa bond program requiring temporary B-1 and B-2 visa applicants from 50 countries to post bonds up to $20,000.
▪The State Department is fighting multiple lawsuits over an ongoing freeze on immigrant visas that has blocked decisions for green card hopefuls from 75 countries since January.