State Department Eyes $100,000 Bond For Green Card Applicants
on Jul 17, 2026 • Updated Jul 17, 2026
During his Address to the Nation on Thursday, July 16, President Donald Trump touted the successes of his immigration policies.
“Our previously wide open borders have been transformed into the most secure borders in the history of our country, with zero illegal aliens being admitted to the United States in the past 14 months,” Trump declared.
However, what of those who wish to legally enter the United States for work?
In light of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on birthright citizenship — which saw the court’s 6-3 majority opinion strike down Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship — the Trump administration and some Republicans are reportedly pursuing new means of curtailing children of non-citizens being born on American soil.
One measure that is being considered by the Trump administration would see the cost of entry with a Green Card accompanied by a steep new fee.
What Could It Cost To Receive A Green Card For Permanent Residency In The United States?
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website, “Having a Green Card (officially known as a Permanent Resident Card) allows you to live and work permanently in the United States.”
On July 16, in a statement to The Hill, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott offered some insight on a new measure being floated within the Trump administration to help determine what kind of people are coming to the United States for permanent residency.
Pigott said, “We are working closely with the Department of Homeland Security to introduce commonsense and effective procedures to enforce U.S. laws, restore the integrity of our immigration system, and protect American public benefits programs from the financial burden of foreigners who arrive with major expensive medical or other needs.”
Continuing, Pigott said:
“As part of this comprehensive initiative, the Department is exploring the use of a long-standing legal authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to require certain visa applicants — those who are otherwise ineligible for a visa because they are likely become a public charge — to post a bond as a way to demonstrate they have access to the funds needed to support themselves,”
To demonstrate access to such funds, Pigott told The Hill that the State Department is considering having Green Card applicants post a $100,000 bond.
This comes as the USCIS is already voicing that the U.S. will soon be putting forth a policy that will work to prevent those who reside in the U.S. on a visa and actively need government programs like SNAP and WIC to sustain themselves from being eligible for a Green Card.
“Under President Trump, USCIS is restoring the basic principle that immigrants must be able to support themselves,” USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow said.
The federal government "is reaffirming the requirement of self-reliance, protecting public resources and ending policies that encouraged dependency on the backs of hard-working American taxpayers.
— USCIS (@USCIS) July 16, 2026
"Under President Trump, USCIS is restoring the basic principle that immigrants…
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More About The Proposed Green Card Fee, And How It Compares To Other Trump Administration Residence Initiatives
With fears of non-citizens abusing the birthright citizenship laws of the United States, which renders children born on American soil citizens regardless of their parents’ citizenship status, this fee could prevent abuse of the system through “anchor babies.”
Presently, there are a few ways for people seeking a Green Card to apply, but they are all much less costly than a $100,000 bond.
For those applying for a Green Card while presently residing in the country on an H-1B visa, or another temporary resident status program, the Form I-485 has a filing fee of $1,440, the USCIS website notes (applying online brings the cost down to $1,390).
For those applying from outside of the country, the DS-260 visa application fee is $325. Upon approval, USCIS lists that there is a $235 fee owed to the USCIS for the processing of the application and creation of their visa.
Critics of the $100,000 bond for a Green Card will likely see this as an economic hurdle, with the cost increasing by as much as nearly 7,000%.
According to the U.S. Census in 2024, which was released in 2025, the median annual household income for American citizens is $83,730.
The proposed $100,000 bond for a Green Card is not dissimilar to the Trump Gold Card, which replaced the EB-5 immigration investor visa program.
Designed for individuals or corporations who are seeking to quickly bring a foreigner into the United States as a permanent resident, the Trump Gold Card has a very costly fee.
Through the Trump Gold Card program an individual pays a non-refundable $15,000 fee to the Department of Homeland Security. Upon approval, they then pay $1 million to earn their Trump Gold Card while investing in the country they will be prospering in.
The corporate-level Trump Gold Card requires a $2 million payment.
For now, the $100,000 bond for a Green Card remains a potential, but that could change.
Still, it should be noted that a similar plan to tack a $100,000 fee onto H-1B visa applications was dashed as it was struck down by a federal judge in June of this year, CNN reports.
This is a developing story.
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