Do I Get My Immigration Bond Money Back?

After discovering that a friend or family member has been arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, it is only natural for loved ones to do everything in their power to get them home quickly. Oftentimes, this process involves one party agreeing to act as an immigration bond sponsor. This individual is responsible for paying the amount dictated by ICE in order to secure the release of an immigrant. In many cases, sponsors agree to pay the bond under the impression that they will receive a refund. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case, and many sponsors are left asking, do I get my immigration bond money back?

Immigration bonds have a wide range when it comes to the total cost. This is because the type of bond, as well as the risk level of the immigrant, are taken into account when determining the price. Delivery bonds are the most popular type of bond as they allow an immigrant to remain within the country while their case processes through the court system. Those who are eligible for a delivery bond agree to return to the ICE facility for all future court proceedings and appointments upon their release. The price associated with a delivery bond can be anywhere from a minimum of $1500 to more than $10,000 when immigrants have been deemed a higher risk.

Those who opt to leave the country instead of having their case brought before an Immigration Judge (IJ) may be eligible for a voluntary departure immigration bond. This type of bond starts at $500 but can be equally costly to a delivery bond, depending on the specific circumstances of the case. In these scenarios, the immigrant generally wants to avoid having a deportation on their permanent record so that they may attempt re-entry into the United States after ten years have passed. After this type of bond is paid, the immigrant is given a specific timeframe by which they must leave the country on their own. This is typically somewhere between 30 to 90 days to allow time for the immigrant to get their affairs in order both here and in their birth country. 

Despite this, the biggest determining factor when it comes to getting immigration bond money back is the method used to pay the bond. Those who paid directly through ICE will be eligible for a refund as long as the immigrant abided by the terms of their bond—regardless of which type of bond was chosen. Unfortunately, however, many immigration bond sponsors who are eligible to get their immigration bond money back fail to do so. This is a common pitfall of working with ICE which leaves many sponsors recommending the assistance of an immigration bond service in lieu of working with ICE directly. 

Want to learn more about how to get immigration bond money back or alternative methods of paying for a bond? Contact US Immigration Bonds now to discover how we can help.