How to Pay an Immigration Bond to ICE?

The biggest concern that family members and friends have after their loved one is arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is simply getting them home. Many times, those who are detained by ICE have jobs, families, or even small children at home who depend on them as caretakers. This abrupt change can be distressing to everyone involved, but fortunately many are able to be released through an immigration bond. Discover how to pay an immigration bond to ICE to get your loved one home as quickly as possible:

Before an immigration bond can be paid, ICE must first determine that the immigrant is eligible for release. This is done by examining many aspects of the immigrant’s life both here in the United States and within their birth country. They will work to determine if the immigrant has a criminal history, family ties in the U.S., employment history, and any other relevant information. If this evaluation leads them to believe that the immigrant will cooperate with the agency, they will likely be granted a bond. In some scenarios, immigrants are denied release on bond and are held in mandatory detainment. This means that they must remain in the custody of ICE until their case concludes within the immigration court system. This can take as little as a few weeks to more than a year depending on the circumstances.

For those eligible for an immigration bond, the price will also be set by the agency. The price of the bond correlates directly with the level of perceived risk. Low-risk immigrants may have bonds that fall closer to the minimum price range, while those with riskier traits will likely be required to pay more. Another factor that may affect the cost of the bond is the type of bond that is chosen. A voluntary departure bond can cost as little as $500 while a standard delivery bond is typically closer to a minimum of $1,500. 

Once the family has the pricing information, they must assign one person as the immigration bond sponsor. This person must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident that has proper identification. They will need to make an appointment at their local ICE facility where they will pay the bond in cash. The immigrant will be released once this process is completed; however, many note difficulties and stalls in the process when working directly with ICE.

Because of these problems and requirements, many families opt to use an immigration bond service instead. The bond service eliminates the need for a sponsor to visit an ICE facility to pay an immigration bond to ICE. Instead, they pay a small percentage of the total bond cost to purchase a surety bond. The bond service then acts as a third-party connection to arrange the payment and release of the immigration from ICE custody.

Want to learn more about how to pay an immigration bond to ICE? Contact the experts at US Immigration Bonds today.