The move expands on the administration’s efforts to secure financial guarantees as part of the nation's immigration system.
NTD reached out to the State Department seeking additional information on Wednesday afternoon but did not receive a comment by publication.
The program is expected to begin with certain immigrant visa applicants from the Dominican Republic and could later expand to additional countries. The bonds are intended to ensure that newly admitted immigrants are financially self-sufficient and do not become dependent on public assistance.
While both policies require refundable bonds as a condition of receiving a visa, they apply to different categories of travelers, serve different purposes and authorize significantly different bond amounts.
The new pilot applies to selected applicants for immigrant visas, which allow foreign nationals to enter the United States as lawful permanent residents. Officials have not publicly detailed how applicants will be selected or how individual bond amounts will be determined, although the program authorizes bonds of up to $250,000.
Rather than focusing on temporary visitors, the newly announced immigrant visa pilot targets individuals seeking permanent residence, with the goal of ensuring they are unlikely to become a financial burden after arriving in the United States.
Immigration advocates are likely to question whether large bond amounts could create financial barriers for otherwise eligible immigrants, particularly those applying through family-sponsored immigration categories.