Blog

Home » Blog » Bond Refund » What Does Immigration Bond Cancelled Mean?

What Does Immigration Bond Cancelled Mean?

Immigration Bond Cancelled

After an immigrant is detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, most find that they are eligible for release through an immigration bond. Although paying the bond allows the immigrant to return home while their immigration case processes through the court system, it does not guarantee that they will be free to remain in the United States after their case resolves. Regardless of the outcome, an immigration bond sponsor may receive a notification that the immigration bond has been cancelled at some point after an Immigration Judge (IJ) reaches a decision. So, what does immigration bond cancelled mean?

Although “cancelled” may sound like a negative concept, it is a positive outcome that simply means the sponsor is eligible to receive their money back. Often when an immigrant is detained by ICE, it occurs unexpectedly and leaves family and loved ones scrambling to come up with the funds needed to secure the release of the immigrant. As these bonds can vary in price, anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000 or more, many sponsors rely on receiving these funds back after the case is resolved. But, unfortunately, not everyone is eligible for this refund.

To be eligible, the most crucial component lies in how the immigration bond was secured. Those who paid the bond, in full, directly to ICE are eligible, but those who used an immigration bond company or service are not. This is because the bond company only requires the sponsor to pay a small percentage of the bond, and this money is a service fee that is not directly applied to the bond. The collateral that a sponsor provides to back the bond; however, will not be collected unless the immigrant fails to appear in court or otherwise abide by the terms of the immigration bond.

From there, the sponsors who paid the bond in full must also ensure that the immigrant abided by the terms of their bond to receive notice that the immigration bond was “cancelled” and eligible to be refunded. If the immigrant failed to appear at all of their court proceedings or otherwise broke the agreement, the money is forfeited and cannot be recovered by the sponsor.

Sponsors who meet all requirements will receive a Form I-391 (or “Notice of Immigration Bond Cancelled”) in the mail. This form will be sent to the address that was provided on the initial bond contract, unless the sponsor has otherwise updated this information with ICE. This notice will not be received until the immigrant’s case has concluded—regardless of whether they were deported or obtained legal status as a result. At that point, the sponsor should send this form, along with a Form I-305 (“Receipt of Immigration Officer”) and a cover letter requesting a refund to the Debt Management Center. After this has been done, the refund will be processed, and a check will be mailed to the immigration bond sponsor.

Have more questions about “what does immigration bond cancelled” mean? Contact us today for help in securing your immigration bond refund.