Affadavit of Support- Bonding Information

[Rob and Jill 82]

I found it quite interesting on the Affadavit of Support that it states you might be required to purchase a bond in order to verify your fiance would not become a public charge. Since I work in insurance, I thought I would do a quick inquiry into what that would entail if it should become necessary, although I highly doubt it would as I make far above the required salary to bring over a fiance, own my own home, and have a few personal property assets, life insurance, etc.

What I discovered, is my agency does not work with ANY company that will write these kinds of bonds. Furthermore, when a co-worker went seeking additional information for me she was basically told there was no known company who would write this kinds of bonds because the fiance could basically skip town. Interesting.

I did what any other person would do and looked up Immigration Bonds on the internet. I found information for Immigration Bail Bonds for people who have been arrested by The Department of Homeland Defense (their words not mine), as well as immigration. Those bonds were Federal Bonds. However, I could not find a "don't become a public charge" general bond.

I wonder, has anyone here actually known anyone who had to have a bond issued? If so, was it Federal or sold by a private company?

My inner nerd has had its interest peaked and it must be satiated.

[pushbrk 12,876]

I found it quite interesting on the Affadavit of Support that it states you might be required to purchase a bond in order to verify your fiance would not become a public charge. Since I work in insurance, I thought I would do a quick inquiry into what that would entail if it should become necessary, although I highly doubt it would as I make far above the required salary to bring over a fiance, own my own home, and have a few personal property assets, life insurance, etc.

What I discovered, is my agency does not work with ANY company that will write these kinds of bonds. Furthermore, when a co-worker went seeking additional information for me she was basically told there was no known company who would write this kinds of bonds because the fiance could basically skip town. Interesting.

I did what any other person would do and looked up Immigration Bonds on the internet. I found information for Immigration Bail Bonds for people who have been arrested by The Department of Homeland Defense (their words not mine), as well as immigration. Those bonds were Federal Bonds. However, I could not find a "don't become a public charge" general bond.

I wonder, has anyone here actually known anyone who had to have a bond issued? If so, was it Federal or sold by a private company?

My inner nerd has had its interest peaked and it must be satiated.

Your information leads me to believe it would be a cash bond rather than an insurance product but I really don't know.

[JERIII 8]

Your information leads me to believe it would be a cash bond rather than an insurance product but I really don't know.

You might want to look at USCIS form I-352, Immigration Bond.

[Rob and Jill 82]

You might want to look at USCIS form I-352, Immigration Bond.

The form you suggested was not listed in their "forms" section, and I only found it by doing a search by the exact form number.

This is what it says on their site:

Immigration Bond

Purpose of Form :

This form is used to contract with an individual who has guaranteed that an alien will either (1) appear as required at a specified location, (2) will voluntarily depart the United States by a certain date, or (3) will not become a "public charge".

Number of Pages :

9

Edition Date :

6/23/00, 12/8/99 edition is also acceptable.

Where to File :

This form is filed at the District or Sub-Office having jurisdiction over the area in which the alien being bonded resides.

Filing Fee :

$0.00

Special Instructions :

The bond, itself, is to be executed either by an acceptable surety company (one that appears on a current Treasury Department Circular 570) or any other party who deposits United States bonds or notes or cash as security for the performance and fulfillment of the terms of the bond.

Download I-352 (248KB PDF)

However, if you click the Download button for the form, it's not there. Furthermore, "The bond, itself, is to be executed either by an acceptable surety company" that section is the part I talked about above, where as an agency who deals with an absurd amount of companies and their contacts...they do not know of ANY Surety Company who will issue this kind of bond. This might actually be a good question for the USCIS Offices.

Edited February 18, 2010 by Rob and Jill

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I found it quite interesting on the Affadavit of Support that it states you might be required to purchase a bond in order to verify your fiance would not become a public charge. Since I work in insurance, I thought I would do a quick inquiry into what that would entail if it should become necessary, although I highly doubt it would as I make far above the required salary to bring over a fiance, own my own home, and have a few personal property assets, life insurance, etc.

What I discovered, is my agency does not work with ANY company that will write these kinds of bonds. Furthermore, when a co-worker went seeking additional information for me she was basically told there was no known company who would write this kinds of bonds because the fiance could basically skip town. Interesting.

I did what any other person would do and looked up Immigration Bonds on the internet. I found information for Immigration Bail Bonds for people who have been arrested by The Department of Homeland Defense (their words not mine), as well as immigration. Those bonds were Federal Bonds. However, I could not find a "don't become a public charge" general bond.

I wonder, has anyone here actually known anyone who had to have a bond issued? If so, was it Federal or sold by a private company?

My inner nerd has had its interest peaked and it must be satiated.

I have never heard of anyone providing or being required to provide a bond. Nor have I ever heard of a bond being acceptable in lieu of making enough money. A lot of language in federal instructions is there for reasons other than practical. For example, the religious waiver for meeting in person. It is almost never (never that I have heard of) allowed, yet they cannot, by law, discriminate against a persons religion. They can, however, require the person to prove that their religion forbids meeting in person before marriage and explain how they will avoid meeting in person before marriage once the visa is granted and the fiancee arrives.

[Rob and Jill 82]

I have never heard of anyone providing or being required to provide a bond. Nor have I ever heard of a bond being acceptable in lieu of making enough money. A lot of language in federal instructions is there for reasons other than practical. For example, the religious waiver for meeting in person. It is almost never (never that I have heard of) allowed, yet they cannot, by law, discriminate against a persons religion. They can, however, require the person to prove that their religion forbids meeting in person before marriage and explain how they will avoid meeting in person before marriage once the visa is granted and the fiancee arrives.

I do not believe it says the bond is acceptable in lieu of. Let me find the wording...It is on the actual form. #5 shown on this link since stupid Adobe is a hater of Cut/Paste...lol.

Affadavit of Support

I haven't seen anyone on VJ that required one either, so I am wondering why the wording is even still there, and who would they let in that would require such a bond?