With a financial guarantee.. A new US proposal to obtain the green card

The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering requiring some foreign applicants for the "green card," which grants them permanent residency in the United States, to deposit a financial guarantee that could reach $100,000, to ensure their ability to support themselves after moving to the country.

The Wall Street Journal quoted sources familiar with the discussions, on Wednesday, that the US State Department is working on developing the proposal as part of the administration's efforts to limit the immigration of foreigners with limited financial means, and to ensure that new immigrants do not rely on public assistance.

The proposal, which is still under discussion, focuses on immigrant visa applicants who apply through US consulates abroad to move permanently to the United States, and obtain the green card after entering the country.

Variation in the guarantee value

Some State Department officials proposed setting the financial guarantee at $100,000, but its value may increase or decrease from this amount depending on the circumstances of each case, according to informed sources.

Officials are considering implementing the idea on a trial basis for applicants from a limited number of countries, before deciding on expanding its scope.

Insiders familiar with the discussions suggested that the amount would be returned to the immigrant after obtaining US citizenship, a process that takes at least 5 years, and that a relative of the applicant could deposit the guarantee on his behalf.

The amount will be used as a guarantee in case the green card holder moves to the United States and then proves unable to support himself, but the newspaper did not clarify the cases that could lead to the confiscation of the amount or deduction of a part of it.

State Department: Proof of financial ability

US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated that Trump "made clear that those wishing to immigrate to the United States must be able to support themselves financially."

He explained that the department is exploring using existing authorities under the Immigration and Nationality Act to require some visa applicants to deposit a financial guarantee, "as a means of proving their ability to access the funds necessary to support themselves."

The State Department typically issues about half a million immigrant visas annually, but the newspaper suggested the number will drop significantly during the current year.

These visas are mostly granted to relatives of US citizens, including spouses, parents, and siblings, while companies use them to a lesser extent, as they usually bring in employees on temporary work visas such as H-1B, and then later sponsor their applications for the green card.

Sharvari Dalal-Dini, head of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, suggested that the high value of the guarantee would "deter many from applying for immigration."

She expected that the goal of these guarantees is "to exclude a certain category of immigrants," considering that the system is turning into "a model that only those who can pay can enter, whether to visit the United States, reunite with their families, or seek a better life."

The proposal is expected to face criticism from immigrant rights advocates, given that many wishing to move to the United States will not be able to provide this amount, even if it is refundable later.

Suspension of applications in 75 countries

The proposal comes after the Trump administration suspended, since last January, procedures for issuing immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, as part of efforts to restrict immigration of low-income individuals.

Under the suspension decision, the State Department continues to receive and process immigration applications from citizens of the covered countries, but does not issue final decisions on granting visas.

The decision also does not include temporary visas, such as tourist and study visas, according to the US newspaper, which noted that officials are not expected to lift the suspension even if the financial guarantee proposal takes effect.

Previous experience with tourist visas

The $100,000 proposal represents a major expansion of a pilot program launched by the State Department last August, which requires some tourist visa applicants to deposit a refundable financial guarantee.

The program began with applicants from Malawi and Zambia, with a value of up to $15,000, while the amount is confiscated if the visa holder overstays the permitted period or, after arrival, applies for another legal status such as asylum. The list of covered countries later expanded to 50 countries, most of them in Africa.

The State Department stated that approximately 97% of visa holders who deposited financial guarantees did not overstay their legal period, but sources familiar with the program indicated that the number of visas issued dropped sharply.

Department officials intend to expand the guarantee program in the future to include tourist visa applicants from all countries not participating in the visa waiver program.