What to Expect When Paying an Immigration Bond?

Across the country, hundreds of undocumented immigrants are arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency each day. Each one of these immigrants leaves behind family, friends, and other loved ones while they are detained. This can make an already distressing situation even more emotional, especially when the immigrant has children at home. Because of this, reuniting is a top priority for loved ones and an immigration bond is often the solution they are seeking. Despite this, immigration bonds can be costly and many are unaware of what the process entails. Discover what to expect when paying an immigration bond:

Within the first day or two of an initial arrest by ICE, a detained immigrant will have the opportunity to attend a bond hearing. During this bond hearing, ICE will evaluate the specific circumstances of the case. They will consider factors like how long the immigrant has been in the country, their criminal history, employment status, and family ties. If this evaluation is viewed favorably by the agency, they will likely grant release through an immigration bond. At the same time, they will use these factors to set a price for bonds. From there, the immigrant will have the opportunity to notify their families of the cost and how to make the bond payment.

Immigration bonds can be costly with a bare minimum price of around $1,500. In some scenarios, the amount can exceed $10,000 or more. To secure the release of the immigrant through ICE, the person who will pay the bond (known as an immigration bond sponsor) must make an appointment at a nearby facility. To do so, they will need the full amount of the bond in cash. Likewise, they must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with a valid photo I.D. and a social security card.

Those who receive a much higher bond price may have a hard time coming up with the full amount of bond in a timely manner. These individuals often turn to an immigration bond service to guide them through the process. Here, they can purchase what is known as a surety bond. A surety bond costs a small fraction of the total bond price but those who purchase them will also need to provide a form of collateral to secure the bond. Depending on the amount of the bond, this may be a title to a vehicle or a deed to a house. In either case, collateral is only collected if the bond agreement is breached.

Despite the use of immigration bond services for pricey bonds, some people who are leery of dealing with ICE directly opt to use the service even when they do not need a traditional surety bond. This often streamlines the process and provides loved ones with additional support. Additionally, the immigration bond service holds the funds in escrow which makes the refund process faster and more thorough than when a bond is paid to ICE.

Want to learn more about what to expect when paying an immigration bond? Contact the experts at US Immigration Bonds today to discover how we can help.