How the public-charge bond works in green card applications under USCIS rules

A public-charge bond can give some immigrants another path in a green card application, but it is not an option every applicant can request automatically. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, updated its policy guidance for people considered inadmissible solely because of the public-charge ground.

The bond serves as a financial guarantee for the U.S. government if the immigrant later receives certain public benefits. Before offering the option, a USCIS officer must review the complete case and confirm that the applicant meets the other requirements of immigration law.

Applicants cannot attach the guarantee on their own to Form I-485. If USCIS decides that a bond may apply, it sends a Notice of Intent to Deny, known as a NOID. The notice states the amount required and the deadline for submitting the guarantee. The bond is processed through Form I-945 and has two available forms.

The minimum amount is $1,000, although USCIS can require more depending on the circumstances and its estimate of the applicant’s potential use of public benefits in the years after obtaining permanent residence. Officials assess both the likelihood of assistance and its possible value. Reference figures include up to $42,000 over five years for an adult with children, $53,430 for an adult without children and $28,200 for a child. The calculations can also include prolonged government-funded institutionalization, with an annual reference cost of $109,860. If likely benefits exceed $100,000, USCIS treats that estimate as a strongly negative factor when deciding whether to offer the bond option.