Everything You Need to Know About Immigration Bonds
It’s never easy when a loved one is detained. Still, it can be even harder for immigrants. They come to the U.S. for various reasons, some to escape dangerous living conditions in their home country, but many are barred from accessing humanitarian protection.
Should your loved one get detained, you can lighten the physical and emotional stress on them by applying for an immigration bond.
What is an Immigration Bond?
The U.S. government can detain immigrants for many reasons, including illegal entry and an outstanding removal order. Whatever the reason is, it can be highly stressful, as the conditions in detention facilities don’t differ much from jails.
You can help your loved one by paying for an immigration bond. This secures their release on the condition that they agree to attend all their immigration court hearings or voluntarily decide to leave the U.S. within a specified time.
Detainees need someone of legal age and status to act as an obligor. This person pays for the immigration bond and is responsible for filing paperwork related to the immigration case.
Immigration Bond Eligibility
A detainee’s eligibility and the bond amount are determined during an immigration bond hearing. The court deems your loved one is eligible if they can prove that they:
- Are not a danger to the community
- Are not at risk of flight
Your loved one may be denied a bond if they have been convicted of a crime or have already been deported before.
Types of Immigration Bonds
There are two main types of immigration bonds.
Delivery Bond
A delivery bond allows your loved one to be temporarily released with the understanding that they must show up in court for their scheduled hearings. If they do so and follow all court orders, the obligor will get their money back. If an immigrant fails to do so, they will be detained again, and they forfeit the bail amount.
Voluntary Departure Bond
A judge may grant a voluntary departure bond to an immigrant on the condition that they agree to leave the country within 120 days. There would also be no removal proceedings. Once an immigrant leaves, the bail is refunded. However, it is forfeited should they fail to do so in time.
Immigration Bond Costs
Delivery bonds have a minimum price of $1,500. This may increase due to the following factors:
- How long the detainee has been in the U.S.
- Criminal offenses
- Previous deportations
- Flight risk
- Employment history
Voluntary departure bonds are more straightforward and usually only cost around $500.
How and Where to Pay Immigration Bonds
Where you pay an immigration bond depends on which government agency is detaining your loved one. These are the agencies in charge of immigrant detention centers:
- Customs and Border Protection
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Office of Refugee Resettlement
Keep in mind that you can’t pay an immigration bond in cash or with a personal check. The detainee’s obligor needs to get a certified cashier’s check. These checks are drawn from a bank’s funds and have extra security features that make them harder to fake.
Once the obligor has a certified cashier’s check, they can schedule an appointment with the local agency detaining your loved one to pay the bond. Afterward, a government official will contact the detention center and inform them that your loved one is cleared for release. You can then pick them up.
It is strongly recommended that you get legal aid soon after.
Get Your Loved One Released
Not everyone can afford to pay an immigration bond. By working with Amistad Bail and Immigration Bonds, you’ll only have to pay 15% of the bond with no annual renewal and maintenance fees.
Fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.