State Department announces program requiring some foreign visitors to pay bonds of up to $15,000

[Dashinka 25,957]

17 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

The huge bonds are guaranteed to bring the "you are excluding the poor" accusations.  My rationalization is that only those who can support their visits need apply. 

Isn't that why the bond rates were graduated?  It is unclear how that will be decided though, so who knows.  

[Crazy Cat 44,810]

Just now, Dashinka said:

Isn't that why the bond rates were graduated?  It is unclear how that will be decided though, so who knows.  

It sounded, to me, like a lot of consulate officer discretion.

[mam521 2,618]

39 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Isn't that why the bond rates were graduated?  It is unclear how that will be decided though, so who knows.  

But even $5K is a lot when you're already traveling from abroad.  Maybe less so for Canucks and Mexicans because of proximity.  

 

I dunno...I suppose this could be argued as a put your money where your mouth is because many visas have the caveat of you're supposed to have access to $10k or around that amount to prove you can survive when you visit.  What's another $5-10K on top of that? 

[Lil bear 4,592]

So if you have a multi entry 10 year visa , do you pay one bond when you get the visa and it’s held for the life of the visa .. or do you pay the bond each time you make a trip and it’s refunded each time ? Logistics will cost the agency  more than value of  the bond 😵‍💫

 

 Might work for single entry visa but a nightmare to implement for multi entry  

[milimelo 4,764]

9 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Things would be so much simpler if "no AOS from tourist visas, period" were the law.

Not a law but there was a recent (as in yesterday) USCIS notice on changes where they can haul you away while you're undergoing AOS - guessing from not a K-1 visa. 

[milimelo 4,764]

10 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

So if you have a multi entry 10 year visa , do you pay one bond when you get the visa and it’s held for the life of the visa .. or do you pay the bond each time you make a trip and it’s refunded each time ? Logistics will cost the agency  more than value of  the bond 😵‍💫

 

 Might work for single entry visa but a nightmare to implement for multi entry  

 

This applies to new visas - you'd get a 3-month one entry visa. 

[Crazy Cat 44,810]

3 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Not a law but there was a recent (as in yesterday) USCIS notice on changes where they can haul you away while you're undergoing AOS - guessing from not a K-1 visa. 

Really?  That is a MAJOR game changer.....

[milimelo 4,764]

7 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Really?  That is a MAJOR game changer.....

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts

The one from Aug 1 - if you click on the links - updated Aug 4. 

 

Plus: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/green-card-applicants-immigrants-removal-proceedings-uscis-rcna223099

Edited Thursday at 02:09 PM by milimelo

[Dashinka 25,957]

56 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

So if you have a multi entry 10 year visa , do you pay one bond when you get the visa and it’s held for the life of the visa .. or do you pay the bond each time you make a trip and it’s refunded each time ? Logistics will cost the agency  more than value of  the bond 😵‍💫

 

 Might work for single entry visa but a nightmare to implement for multi entry  

My guess is one time as any overstay would result in the visa being canceled.  Of course we are talking about a bureaucracy.

[Dashinka 25,957]

49 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Really?  That is a MAJOR game changer.....

 

44 minutes ago, milimelo said:

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts

The one from Aug 1 - if you click on the links - updated Aug 4. 

 

Plus: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/green-card-applicants-immigrants-removal-proceedings-uscis-rcna223099

This one is not clear.  So are they saying someone minding their business awaiting an AOS either via a K1, or I130 (left out employment based as those folks will have status) in a period of authorized stay are just going to be put in removal proceedings without a reason?  Won't an IJ want a reason?

[Dashinka 25,957]

1 hour ago, mam521 said:

But even $5K is a lot when you're already traveling from abroad.  Maybe less so for Canucks and Mexicans because of proximity.  

 

I dunno...I suppose this could be argued as a put your money where your mouth is because many visas have the caveat of you're supposed to have access to $10k or around that amount to prove you can survive when you visit.  What's another $5-10K on top of that? 

Hard to say really, but I know I usually have to have a letter when I submit an application for a business visa telling some nameless bureaucrat my trip costs will be covered.

 

As to Canucks, that is a good question.  Maybe open a tab at a PoE?  I would hope it will not result in Canadians being required to do ESTA or something like that.

[Crazy Cat 44,810]

11 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

 

This one is not clear.  So are they saying someone minding their business awaiting an AOS either via a K1, or I130 (left out employment based as those folks will have status) in a period of authorized stay are just going to be put in removal proceedings without a reason?  Won't an IJ want a reason?

Agree.  However, I have been thinking about this a lot.  "Authorized Stay" is not part of the INA and (as we all know), not a legal status.  It is "merely" a policy by the Attorney General and/or head of DHS.  A policy can be changed with the stroke of a pen.   I would not be surprised to see the policy changed.  However, this would cause a massive upheaval in the immigration world as few people can keep legal status while waiting for adjustment of status.

 

Edited Thursday at 03:05 PM by Crazy Cat

[Dashinka 25,957]

2 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Agree.  However, I have been thinking about this a lot.  "Authorized Stay" is not part of the INA and (as we all know), not a legal status.  It is "merely" a policy by the Attorney General.  A policy can be changed with the stroke of a pen.   I would not be surprised to see the policy changed.  However, this would cause a massive upheaval in the immigration world as few people can keep legal status while waiting for adjustment of status.

 

Yes, it really depends on how an IJ will be guided.

[yuna628 9,884]

1 hour ago, milimelo said:

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts

The one from Aug 1 - if you click on the links - updated Aug 4. 

 

Plus: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/green-card-applicants-immigrants-removal-proceedings-uscis-rcna223099

This is problematic but I don't expect they won't care about that.

 

The bond thing is a stupid idea, but this is where we're at at this point in time. Let's see if they ever suggest such a thing for VWPers. 😉

Edited Thursday at 03:08 PM by yuna628

[Crazy Cat 44,810]

Just now, Dashinka said:

Yes, it really depends on how an IJ will be guided.

Yes.  Well, a judge cannot make immigration policy....although some rogue judges think otherwise. 😄