How much is an immigration bond?

The bond amount is not set by us

The bond amount is the full sum the government holds as a guarantee that the person will attend their immigration appointments and hearings. ICE, DHS, or an immigration judge sets it. No bond company chooses it, negotiates it, or can promise you a figure before it exists.

If a bond has been set, that amount is a fact you can verify. If nobody has set one yet, anyone quoting you a bond amount is guessing.

What you actually pay

If you pay the government directly, you pay the whole bond amount, and it comes back at the end of the case if the person attended everything they were required to attend.

If you use a bond company, you do not pay the full amount. You pay a premium, which is a percentage of the bond, plus any application fee, and you provide collateral. The premium is the company's fee and it does not come back. Collateral is usually cash or property that secures the rest, and it is returned when the bond is cancelled.

We put every one of those numbers in writing before you sign anything. If someone will not do that, that itself is the answer.

Why quotes differ so much

Most of the spread comes from people quoting different things. One company quotes the premium, another quotes the premium plus fees, another quotes the bond amount itself. When you compare, ask each one for the total you would hand over and the total you would get back, and compare those two numbers only.

Be careful with anyone promising a release time. Release timing is controlled by the facility, ICE, and the court, and nobody selling you a bond controls it.

Checked against ICE guidance on 30 July 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.