📋 Bond Details
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Minimum bond is $1,500. Enter the amount set by ICE or the immigration judge.
Enter a valid bond amount (minimum $1,500).
Both bond types are calculated the same way
Cash bond is refundable; surety premium is not
Collateral is returned when case concludes and bond is exonerated. Amount set by bond agent.
Total Upfront Cost to Family
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📊 Complete Bond Cost Breakdown
⚠️ Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes. Actual bond agent premiums and collateral requirements vary by agent, state, and risk assessment. Bond amounts are set by ICE or immigration judges based on individual circumstances. This is not legal advice. An immigration attorney can help request a bond hearing to potentially reduce the bond amount before you pay it.
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Sources & Methodology
Bond calculation methodology verified against 8 CFR 236.1 (arrest, custody, and detention authority), ICE bond procedures, and the Immigration Bond Manual. Minimum bond amount ($1,500) confirmed per 8 U.S.C. 1226.
ICE Official Bond Information — Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Official ICE guidance on immigration bond procedures, payment locations, cash bond refund procedures, and bond types (delivery vs voluntary departure) used to verify all bond procedure content in this calculator.
8 CFR 236.1 — Apprehension, Custody, Hearings (Cornell LII)
Federal regulation governing ICE arrest, detention, and bond authority, including the minimum bond amount provisions under 8 U.S.C. 1226, verified as the statutory basis for immigration bond amounts in this calculator.
Immigration Justice Campaign — Bond Information Resources
Legal advocacy organization providing verified bond agent premium range data (15-20%), collateral requirement norms, and bond process information used to calibrate professional fee estimates in this calculator.
Bond Cost Formula (verified against 8 CFR 236.1 and ICE procedures):
Bond Agent Premium = Bond Amount x Premium Rate (15%-20%) Collateral Required = Bond Amount x Collateral Rate (0%-150%) Surety Bond Upfront = Premium (non-refundable) + Collateral (refundable when exonerated) Cash Bond Upfront = Full Bond Amount (refundable when case concludes) Total Non-Refundable Cost = Premium only (surety) | $0 if appearances met (cash) Minimum bond: $1,500 per 8 U.S.C. 1226. Premium range: 15-20% (state-regulated, varies by agent and risk). Collateral: bond agent discretion, typically 100% of bond amount in property or cash. Cash bond refund timeline: 4-8 weeks after case conclusion.
Bond Agent Premium = Bond Amount x Premium Rate (15%-20%) Collateral Required = Bond Amount x Collateral Rate (0%-150%) Surety Bond Upfront = Premium (non-refundable) + Collateral (refundable when exonerated) Cash Bond Upfront = Full Bond Amount (refundable when case concludes) Total Non-Refundable Cost = Premium only (surety) | $0 if appearances met (cash) Minimum bond: $1,500 per 8 U.S.C. 1226. Premium range: 15-20% (state-regulated, varies by agent and risk). Collateral: bond agent discretion, typically 100% of bond amount in property or cash. Cash bond refund timeline: 4-8 weeks after case conclusion.
Last reviewed: April 2026 | Based on current ICE bond procedures
How Immigration Bail Bonds Work: Complete Guide
When someone is detained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), they may be eligible for release on bond while their immigration case proceeds. Understanding the full cost is critical — there are two very different ways to pay a bond, and one is much more expensive in the long run even though it requires less money upfront.
Surety Bond Cost = Premium (non-refundable) + Collateral (refundable)
Example — $15,000 ICE bond, surety bond with 17.5% premium, 100% collateral:
Non-refundable premium: $15,000 x 0.175 = $2,625 (paid to bond agent, never returned)
Collateral required: $15,000 x 1.0 = $15,000 (returned when case ends and bond exonerated)
Total upfront: $2,625 + $15,000 = $17,625
Total permanent cost (non-refundable): $2,625
Cash bond alternative:
Paid directly to ICE: $15,000 (all refunded when case concludes with appearances met)
Permanent cost if appearances met: $0 (full refund)
Non-refundable premium: $15,000 x 0.175 = $2,625 (paid to bond agent, never returned)
Collateral required: $15,000 x 1.0 = $15,000 (returned when case ends and bond exonerated)
Total upfront: $2,625 + $15,000 = $17,625
Total permanent cost (non-refundable): $2,625
Cash bond alternative:
Paid directly to ICE: $15,000 (all refunded when case concludes with appearances met)
Permanent cost if appearances met: $0 (full refund)
Cash Bond vs Surety Bond: Which Is Better?
| Factor | Cash Bond | Surety Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront payment | Full bond amount | Premium + collateral |
| Is money returned? | Yes — full amount refunded if all appearances met | Premium is NEVER returned; collateral returned |
| Total permanent cost | $0 (if no forfeiture) | 15-20% of bond amount |
| Who processes payment | ICE directly (money order/cashier's check) | Private bond agent |
| Best choice when | Family can raise full bond amount | Family cannot raise full bond amount upfront |
What Determines the Bond Amount ICE Sets
The minimum bond amount under 8 U.S.C. 1226 is $1,500. ICE officers set the initial bond based on a risk assessment evaluating flight risk and danger to the community. Factors that typically result in lower bonds include: long continuous US residence, US citizen or permanent resident family members (especially spouse or children), stable employment history, no prior immigration violations, no criminal history, and demonstrated community ties. Factors that result in higher bonds include: prior deportation history, criminal convictions, prior failure to appear, recently entered the US, and limited family or community ties.
Bond Hearing: How to Potentially Reduce the Amount
Before paying any bond, consult an immigration attorney about requesting a bond hearing before an immigration judge. At a bond hearing, the judge independently reviews ICE's bond decision and can reduce the amount, maintain it, increase it, or release the person on recognizance (no bond required). Legal representation is strongly associated with more favorable bond outcomes. The person requesting the bond hearing must demonstrate to the judge's satisfaction that they are not a flight risk and not a danger to the community.
💡 Critical timing tip: Do NOT pay the bond before consulting an attorney. If you pay a high bond amount that an attorney could have reduced at a hearing, that money is tied up for the duration of the case. An immigration attorney consultation (often $150 to $300) may save thousands in bond costs. The bond payment does not expire while a bond hearing is pending.
Step-by-Step: How to Pay an Immigration Bond
- Get the A-number: Obtain the detained person's Alien Registration Number (A-number) from them or from the detention facility. This is required for all bond paperwork.
- Confirm bond amount and detention facility: Call the detention facility or the ICE bond hotline (1-800-606-8682) to confirm the bond amount and where payment must be made.
- Gather required documents: Bring valid government-issued ID, proof of US citizenship or permanent resident status, and payment in the form of a cashier's check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security."
- Pay at the ICE ERO office: Bond payment is made in person at the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) local field office, not at the detention facility.
- Receive Form I-352: ICE provides an Immigration Bond Form I-352 acknowledging receipt of the bond. Keep this — it is required to get a refund when the case concludes.
- Release timeline: ICE typically processes release within 12 to 24 hours of bond payment, though delays can occur. The person is released from the detention facility, not the ERO office.
Typical Immigration Bond Amounts by Situation
| Situation | Typical Bond Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First-time, no criminal record, strong ties | $1,500 – $5,000 | Lowest risk profile; judge likely to reduce |
| First-time, limited ties, asylum seeker | $3,000 – $10,000 | Credible fear finding may reduce bond |
| Prior immigration violation, no criminal record | $7,500 – $15,000 | Prior voluntary departure violation increases risk |
| Criminal history (non-aggravated felony) | $10,000 – $25,000+ | Varies significantly by offense type and sentence |
| Prior deportation | Mandatory detention likely | May not be eligible for bond (8 U.S.C. 1226(c)) |
Bond Refund: Getting Your Cash Bond Back
When the immigration case concludes and all bond conditions are satisfied (all appearances made, orders complied with), the obligor (person who paid the bond) can apply for a cash bond refund from ICE. This requires submitting Form I-391 (Notice of Bond Refund) with the original Form I-352 receipt. Refunds typically take 4 to 8 weeks to process and are issued by US Treasury check mailed to the address on file. The refund goes to the obligor, not to the detained person. If you move, update your address with ICE to avoid lost checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost depends on whether you use a bond agent (surety bond) or pay ICE directly (cash bond). For a surety bond: the non-refundable agent premium is 15-20% of the bond amount. For a $10,000 bond, that is $1,500-$2,000 in fees that are never returned, plus collateral (typically the full bond amount) which is returned when the case ends. For a cash bond: you pay the full $10,000 to ICE directly — all of it is returned when the case concludes as long as all appearances are made.
The statutory minimum immigration bond amount is $1,500 under 8 U.S.C. 1226. There is no maximum — bonds can be set at $25,000 or higher for high-risk cases. The amount is set by ICE initially and can be reviewed by an immigration judge at a bond hearing. ICE sets the bond based on a risk assessment of flight risk and danger to the community.
It depends on the bond type. Cash bonds paid directly to ICE are fully refunded when the immigration case concludes and all bond conditions are met (all appearances made, orders complied with). Refunds take 4-8 weeks. Surety bond premiums paid to bond agents are NEVER returned, regardless of the case outcome. The collateral posted with the bond agent is returned when the bond is exonerated. If the person absconds (fails to appear), the full bond amount is forfeited.
Yes. An immigration attorney can request a bond redetermination hearing before an immigration judge. At the hearing, the judge independently evaluates the bond amount and can reduce it, maintain it, or in rare cases increase it. Strong evidence of community ties (US citizen spouse or children, long US residence, stable employment, homeownership) significantly improves the chances of a reduction. Always request a bond hearing before paying a high bond amount — even a $150-$300 attorney consultation may lead to thousands in savings.
The obligor (person paying the bond) must be a US citizen or lawful permanent resident with valid ID and proof of status. They must be able to demonstrate financial ability to pay the bond amount and must sign documents accepting responsibility for ensuring the detained person appears at all hearings. The obligor must appear in person at the ICE ERO office with a cashier's check or money order. Multiple people can contribute funds, but one person signs as the legal obligor.
A delivery bond is issued when ICE determines someone is eligible for release pending immigration hearings. It requires the person to appear at all scheduled hearings. A voluntary departure bond is issued when a person agrees to voluntarily leave the US by a specific date rather than waiting for a formal removal order. If they depart by the deadline, the bond is returned. If they fail to depart, the bond is forfeited and a formal removal order is issued. Voluntary departure avoids a formal removal order, which has fewer consequences for future immigration applications.
After bond payment is processed by ICE, release typically occurs within 12 to 24 hours, though it can take up to 3 to 5 business days depending on the detention facility and ICE workload. Bond must be paid at the ICE ERO local field office (not the detention facility) during business hours. Payment must be in the form of a cashier's check or money order; cash and personal checks are typically not accepted. Bring all required documentation to avoid delays.
If a person released on immigration bond fails to appear at a required hearing: an in absentia removal order is immediately issued; an arrest warrant is issued; ICE prioritizes the arrest and re-detention of the person; and the full bond amount is forfeited. For cash bonds, the obligor loses the entire bond amount paid to ICE. For surety bonds, the bond agent pays the full bond amount to ICE and then pursues the obligor (who signed an indemnity agreement) for full reimbursement. Bond forfeiture is a serious financial consequence for the family.
Yes. Several nonprofit organizations operate bond funds to help low-income families: the RAICES Bond Fund, National Bail Fund Network, the Vera Institute, and various local immigrant rights organizations. Eligibility requirements and available funding vary. These organizations typically prioritize people who cannot afford the bond, have no criminal history, and have strong community ties. Applications can take several days to process. Contact local immigrant legal services organizations for referrals to bond assistance programs in your area.
The obligor must bring: valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport); proof of US citizenship or lawful permanent resident status (birth certificate, US passport, or green card); the detainee's full legal name and A-number (Alien Registration Number); knowledge of the detention facility name and location; and payment in the form of a cashier's check or money order made payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" for the exact bond amount. Contact the ICE ERO field office before going to confirm current requirements.
Yes. Under 8 U.S.C. 1226(c), certain categories of noncitizens are subject to mandatory detention and are not eligible for bond. These include people with certain criminal convictions (aggravated felonies, drug trafficking, crimes involving moral turpitude), those who have been previously ordered removed, and certain terrorism-related grounds. Even for mandatory detention categories, an immigration judge may conduct a Joseph hearing to determine if the government's mandatory detention basis is correct. An immigration attorney can evaluate whether mandatory detention applies in a specific case.
To get a cash bond refund: keep your original Form I-352 (Immigration Bond receipt) safely — it is required for the refund. After the case concludes and all bond conditions are met, submit Form I-391 (Notice of Bond Refund) with the original I-352 to the ICE ERO field office. Refunds are processed as US Treasury checks mailed to the address on the I-352. Processing takes 4 to 8 weeks. If you have moved, update your address with ICE before the case concludes. Contact the ICE bond hotline (1-800-606-8682) for refund status inquiries.
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