[REVISION HISTORY]

US immigration bond pilot program

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What changed

2026-08-08 03:05 UTC → 2026-08-08 21:42 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In early August ~~2026~~ 2026, the White House released a fact sheet highlighting the Trump administration’s record of over three million deportations and announcing a new immigration measure: a pilot program that would require certain visa applicants to post a high‑bond to guarantee they would not become a public charge. The pilot was initially targeted at applicants from the Dominican Republic, a country chosen because of the volume of visa applications processed at the U.S. embassy in Santo Domingo. The following day, the State Department provided detailed guidance on how the bond would work. Consular officers can set the bond amount case‑by‑case, with estimates ranging from $1,000 to $250,000, and payments are processed through USCIS. Bonds may be refunded after five years if the immigrant does not become a public charge, and the program could be expanded to other nations after evaluation. On 7 August 2026 the State Department formally launched the pilot, specifying that it applies only to new immigrant‑visa cases and does not affect temporary visas or already‑issued immigrant visas. Consular officers will assess each applicant’s financial situation, health, family status and other factors when setting the bond, which can be as high as $250,000. The bond is payable through USCIS and will be returned after five years provided the visa holder does not receive public benefits. Officials including spokespersons Natalia Molano and Tommy Pigott framed the measure as part of a broader effort to limit reliance on public assistance by new permanent‑resident applicants.

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