When DHS or EOIR sets a bond amount for a detained Guatemalan, someone in the United States has to post it. Since April 20, 2023, ICE processes bond payments through CeBONDS (Cash Electronic Bonds). This page covers who can be the obligor, what ID they need, how the money moves, the three types of bond and how to ask about a refund. It does not cover who qualifies for a bond or a bond hearing. For what the Guatemalan consulate does when a national is detained, see consular assistance if detained or hospitalized; this page does not repeat it.
Quick summary: Post the bond on CeBONDS (cebonds.ice.gov), which ICE says is only available for users within the United States. Obligors: US citizens, permanent residents, law firms and non-profits; the detained person can post only a voluntary departure or order of supervision bond for themself. Payment: Fedwire or ACH only, for the full amount (cash bond). Posting hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the detention location’s time zone. ICE estimates verification at approximately 1 to 2 hours. Refund questions after cancellation or breach: BondRefund.HelpDesk@ice.dhs.gov, 877-491-6521 option 1.
Before you start: the bond amount and the A-Number
ICE says the amount of an immigration bond is set by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which is part of the Department of Justice. “A cash bond obligor must deposit the full amount of the bond at the time the obligor posts the bond with ICE.” Under the statute, 8 U.S.C. 1226(a)(2)(A), the Attorney General may release a person arrested and detained pending a decision on whether they are to be removed from the United States on a bond of at least $1,500, except as provided in subsection (c).
To find the detained person in CeBONDS you need their name and alien number (A-Number). If the system cannot locate the person, ICE says to check that both were entered correctly, then contact the nearest ICE Field Office. EOIR’s online case lookup tells users to contact their local court if they need bond hearing information. Our guide to checking an immigration court case explains the A-Number format.
Who can be the obligor and what ID ICE asks for
The obligor is the person or entity who posts the bond and guarantees that the detained person will meet the bond’s conditions. ICE asks the obligor for at least one document from their category:
| Obligor | Documents ICE accepts (at least one) | Bonds they can post |
|---|---|---|
| US citizen | US passport; US birth certificate; US Citizen Born Abroad document; USCIS Naturalization Certificate; state driver’s license or ID card (REAL ID only); military ID card | Delivery, voluntary departure, order of supervision |
| Lawful permanent resident | Permanent Resident Card (Green Card); military ID card | Delivery, voluntary departure, order of supervision |
| Non-profit organization | IRS Letter 947 (letter of determination); SS4 IRS EIN approval letter; letter authorizing the representative posting the bond; representative’s ID | Delivery, voluntary departure, order of supervision |
| Law firm | SS4 IRS EIN approval letter; letter authorizing the representative posting the bond; representative’s ID | Delivery, voluntary departure, order of supervision |
| The detained person, for themself | Form I-862 Notice to Appear; VD order (VD bond); IJ order (order of supervision bond); Form I-220B; Form I-765 EAD | Voluntary departure or order of supervision bond only |
Source: ICE, Post a Bond (updated 07/01/2026), read 15 October 2026.
For Guatemalan families. ICE’s list has no category for a relative who is not a US citizen or permanent resident, and “CeBONDS is only available for users within the United States.” A relative living in Guatemala, or one in the US without status, therefore needs one of the listed obligors. ICE names two routes for obligors without banking access: an immigration bond company from the Treasury’s list of certified surety companies, or community-based organizations that assist with immigration bonds.
Step by step on CeBONDS
- Open ICE’s Post a Bond page and select Click Here to Post a Bond to register a secure CeBONDS account. The CeBONDS landing page is available in English and Spanish; from the Spanish landing page you can choose another language from a drop-down menu.
- Search for the detained person with their name and A-Number.
- Pay. “Bond payments must be made via Fedwire or Automated Clearing House (ACH) to post an immigration bond.” ICE describes Fedwire as a real-time electronic funds transfer system run by the Federal Reserve Bank, and ACH as an electronic network that moves money from one bank account to another.
- Verification. ICE estimates the review of the bond contract and payment at approximately 1 to 2 hours, depending on staffing, operational resources and the case. It happens only during bond posting hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding government holidays, in the time zone where the person is detained. Anything received after hours, or not completed in them, is processed the next business day.
- Release. ICE says people are typically released by the end of the day after the bond is approved and the Form I-352 bond contract is signed, but detention facility processing times vary.
- Notices. ICE says CeBONDS also enables it to send electronic notifications to cash bond obligors.
ICE adds that walk-in obligors at an ICE office still need banking: “even obligors who post bonds at an ICE office must have access to banking/financial services to post bonds on behalf of aliens.”
The three kinds of bond and what the obligor promises
ICE’s fact sheet warns: “Before posting a bond, an obligor should thoroughly review the terms of the Bond Agreement (Form I-352), which is the only document that provides the terms and conditions of the agreement.”
| Bond type | What the obligor must do | When ICE cancels it (Form I-391) |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery bond | Have the person report to the place, date and time ICE sets each time ICE issues Form I-340, Notice to Obligor to Deliver Alien | Before any breach: ICE takes the person back into custody, ICE removes the person, or the person dies |
| Voluntary departure bond | Prove the person left the US on or before the voluntary departure date, with proof of departure within 30 days of that date | EOIR grants voluntary departure and you prove timely departure, or the person dies before the departure date |
| Order of supervision bond | Make sure the person complies with all terms of Form I-220B, Order of Supervision | The person complies with all terms of the order while it is in effect |
Breach. If ICE decides the obligor failed to substantially perform the bond’s terms, it sends Form I-323, Notice - Immigration Bond Breached. ICE gives the example that a person who shows up one day late on a delivery bond could, depending on the circumstances, still lead to a breach. “When a bond is breached, the obligor forfeits the bond deposit to the government.” ICE still refunds the interest accrued on a cash deposit.
Status, refunds and contacts
| Question | Who to contact (per ICE) |
|---|---|
| Bond still open, or status questions | Nearest ICE Field Office |
| Bond cancelled or breached, refund questions | Financial Service Center Burlington: BondRefund.HelpDesk@ice.dhs.gov, phone 877-491-6521, option 1 |
| Problems using CeBONDS | ICECeBONDs-Helpdesk@ice.dhs.gov, or the nearest ICE Field Office |
| Obligor moved | File ICE Form I-333, Obligor Change of Address, in person or by mail to the Enforcement and Removal office where you posted the bond |
| Paying in person | Contact the nearest ICE Field Office; ICE handles in-person payments case by case |
ICE’s refund contact applies once you have been notified that the bond was cancelled or breached; until ICE issues Form I-391, the bond stays in effect.
Related pages
- Checking an immigration court case (EOIR): hearing dates, the A-Number and the address rule.
- Consular assistance if detained or hospitalized and the consulate finder.
- A consular power of attorney if a detained parent needs someone to act for them in Guatemala.
- What happens when a deportation flight lands.
What we could not confirm
- Paying from a bank account outside the US: the ICE page lists Fedwire and ACH; we did not find on it any mention of foreign bank accounts or international transfers.
- Bond eligibility and current detention rules: outside this page; ask the immigration court or a lawyer.
Sources
- ICE, Post a Bond (CeBONDS FAQ and Immigration Bond Fact Sheet; updated 07/01/2026): https://www.ice.gov/detain/detention-management/bonds
- CeBONDS: https://cebonds.ice.gov/
- US Treasury, Surety Bonds - List of Certified Companies (linked from the ICE page): https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/surety-bonds/list-certified-companies.html
- 8 U.S.C. 1226(a), US Code 2024 edition: https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/8/1226
- EOIR, Automated Case Information System: https://acis.eoir.justice.gov/en/
All sources read 15 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pay an immigration bond for someone detained by ICE?
Through ICE’s Cash Electronic Bonds system, CeBONDS (cebonds.ice.gov). You register a secure account from the ICE Post a Bond page, find the detained person with their name and alien number, and pay by Fedwire or ACH. ICE says it will continue to work case by case with obligors who want to pay in person at an ICE office; contact the nearest ICE Field Office for that.
Who can post an ICE bond?
ICE says US citizens, lawful permanent residents, law firms and non-profit organizations can use CeBONDS to post a delivery bond, voluntary departure bond or order of supervision bond. The detained person can post a voluntary departure bond or an order of supervision bond on their own behalf. The obligor must show at least one document from ICE’s list for their category, for example a US passport or a Green Card.
Can a relative in Guatemala pay the bond online?
ICE says CeBONDS is only available for users within the United States. A relative in Guatemala would need a US-based obligor from ICE’s list: a US citizen, a permanent resident, a law firm or a non-profit. Separately, ICE says obligors without access to banking services may use an immigration bond company from the Treasury’s list of certified surety companies, or work with community-based organizations that assist with immigration bonds.
Does the Guatemalan consulate pay immigration bonds?
See our page on consular assistance if detained or hospitalized, which covers what the consulate can and cannot do for a detained Guatemalan. This page covers the ICE bond process only.
How much is an immigration bond?
ICE says the amount is set by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which is part of the Department of Justice. A cash bond obligor deposits the full amount when posting. Under 8 U.S.C. 1226(a)(2)(A), the Attorney General may release a person arrested and detained pending a removal decision on a bond of at least $1,500, except as provided in subsection (c).
What are the hours for posting a bond?
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding government holidays, in the time zone where the person is detained. Requests received after those hours, or not completed in them, are processed the next business day.
How do I get the bond money back?
A bond stays in effect until ICE issues Form I-391, Notice - Immigration Bond Cancelled. If the bond is still open, ask the nearest ICE Field Office about its status. If you were notified that the bond was cancelled or breached, contact the Financial Service Center Burlington at BondRefund.HelpDesk@ice.dhs.gov or 877-491-6521, option 1. If the bond is breached, the deposit is forfeited, but ICE still refunds the interest accrued on a cash deposit.
I moved after posting a bond. What do I do?
File ICE Form I-333, Obligor Change of Address. ICE says you can present it in person and get a signed copy back as proof of receipt, or mail it to the Enforcement and Removal office where you posted the bond.
