Reported Proposal: Up to $100,000 Bond for Some Green Card Applicants Abroad — What Columbus Families Should Know

On July 15, 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported that the administration is considering a new financial requirement for some people applying for green cards from outside the United States: a refundable bond of roughly $100,000 that would have to be posted before an immigrant visa is issued.

Before anything else, the most important point: this is a reported proposal, not a rule. As of the date of this post, no government agency has formally announced it, no regulation has been published, and immigrant visa processing requirements have not changed.

What was reported

According to the reporting:

• The State Department is weighing a requirement that certain immigrant visa (green card) applicants applying from abroad post a large refundable bond — figures around $100,000 were discussed, though the amount could vary from person to person (it could be lower or higher).
• The bond would act as collateral for financial self-sufficiency — money the government holds in case a new green card holder cannot support themselves after arriving.
• The bond would reportedly be returned after the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, a process that typically takes at least five years after getting a green card.
• The State Department is reportedly considering piloting the policy in a small number of countries first, with the option to expand it later.
• A State Department spokesperson said: *"President Trump has made clear that those who wish to immigrate to the United States must be financially self-sufficient."*

Who could be affected if it ever takes effect

The reporting suggests the proposal is aimed at consular processing — people applying for immigrant visas at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. That would especially touch family-based immigration: spouses, parents, children, and siblings of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, a category in which roughly half a million visas were issued last year.

For Columbus families, that is the heart of the I-130 petition process — cases where a relative is waiting abroad for an interview at a consulate.

Important context: courts and existing bond programs

Two pieces of context matter when judging how real this could become:

1. A related fee was already blocked in court. In June 2026, a federal judge blocked the administration's $100,000 H-1B fee, ruling that only Congress can approve tax-like fees of that kind. Legal experts quoted in coverage expect any green card bond of this size to face similar challenges.

2. Smaller visa bonds already exist. Since April 2, 2026, the State Department's visitor-visa bond program requires refundable bonds of $5,000–$15,000 from B-1/B-2 applicants from about 50 designated countries with high overstay rates. The reported green card bond would be a dramatic expansion of that idea — in both amount and scope.

Immigration advocates have criticized the proposal. The American Immigration Lawyers Association's head of government relations said it risks making the system *"pay-to-play: only the wealthy can come visit, or reunite with family, or seek a better life for themselves."*

What this means for you — and what NOT to do

• Nothing has changed today. If you have a pending I-130 petition or a relative in consular processing, current requirements still apply. Do not cancel or delay a properly filed case because of this report.
• Do not pay anyone a "bond" now. There is no $100,000 bond requirement in effect. Anyone asking you to pay such a bond today — by phone, text, or social media — is attempting fraud. USCIS and the State Department only collect fees through official channels.
• Keep your case moving. If a proposal like this ever advances, cases already in the pipeline may be treated differently than new filings. Keeping your petition accurate, complete, and moving is the best protection.
• Watch official sources. A real change would appear in the Federal Register and on travel.state.gov — not just in news reports. We will post an update if that happens.

This post is general information, not legal advice. Whether and how any future rule would apply to a specific case is a legal question for a licensed immigration attorney.

We can help

Asal Immigration Services helps Columbus and Central Ohio families prepare family petitions (I-130), consular processing document packets, and other USCIS forms — with flat fees and service in Somali, Arabic, and English. If you want help understanding where your family's case stands, [contact us](/contact) or visit our [family immigration service page](/services/family-immigration). You can also review our [forms and guides](/forms).

Source: Envoy Global media alert on The Wall Street Journal's July 15, 2026 report: https://www.envoyglobal.com/news-alert/media-alert-administration-considering-up-to-100000-bond-requirement-for-certain-green-card-applicants/