The United States has introduced a new visa bond programme requiring certain immigrant visa applicants to deposit up to $250,000 before they can be granted entry into the country.
The pilot scheme, which took immediate effect, currently targets selected immigrant visa applicants from the Dominican Republic who were previously found ineligible on “public charge” grounds, with US authorities indicating that the policy could later be expanded to other countries.
The announcement was made in a report published by the Washington Free Beacon and shared by the US Department of State.
According to the State Department, the initiative is aimed at ensuring that immigrants are financially capable of supporting themselves and do not become dependent on public welfare programmes.
“Immigrating to the United States is a privilege, not a right. Those who seek to obtain that privilege must be capable of demonstrating that they will be a benefit—rather than a burden—to our nation,” the department said.
Under the programme, consular officers will determine bond amounts on a case-by-case basis, taking into account each applicant’s circumstances. While some applicants may be required to post bonds of $100,000, others could be asked to provide as much as $250,000.
US officials explained that the policy is based on provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which authorises the government to require financial guarantees from applicants considered likely to become a public charge.
The department said the bonds are designed to protect US-funded welfare programmes from the financial costs associated with immigrants who may require long-term public assistance or government-funded medical care.
Applicants who successfully meet the conditions of the programme may have their bonds cancelled after five years, provided they do not receive public cash assistance for income maintenance or long-term institutional care funded by the government during that period.
The State Department said the Dominican Republic was selected for the pilot because of the large volume of immigrant visa applications processed at the US Embassy in Santo Domingo.
The latest measure comes days after the US made permanent its visa bond programme for certain non-immigrant applicants from 50 countries, including Nigeria, under which eligible travellers may be required to pay a refundable $20,000 bond to obtain some categories of business and tourist visas.
The Trump administration said both programmes form part of broader efforts to tighten immigration rules, discourage visa violations and ensure that immigrants contribute positively to the US economy rather than relying on public assistance.
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