Consular officers will assess applicants individually, with bonds starting at $1,000
The United States has launched the pilot program in the Dominican Republic, making it the first country where the measure is in effect, according to the State Department. The program began Wednesday.
The measure does not cover all applicants for permanent residence. Instead, a consular officer will review each case and decide whether to require a financial bond before the immigrant visa process continues.
State Department Spanish-language spokeswoman Natalia Molano said in interviews with Dominican media that the Dominican Republic was chosen because of the volume of immigrant visas processed by the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo.
Molano also said the initiative could be expanded to other countries.
Consular officers may consider an applicant’s age, health, family situation, income, assets and education. They may also review other financial, medical or judicial records when determining whether an applicant is at risk of becoming a “public charge.”
A required bond must be processed through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The State Department said the program has no fixed bond amount.
U.S. law establishes a minimum of $1,000, but the final amount will be based on the evaluation of each case, the department said.
The program applies only to immigrant visas. It does not affect people who already hold an approved or valid immigrant visa, according to the State Department.