What Is a California Immigration Consultant Bond?
A California immigration consultant surety bond is a licensing requirement for immigration consultants in the state. Just like in a number of other states across the U.S., California consultants have to get an immigration consultant bond to be granted the right to practice their profession.
The bond is required by the California Secretary of State. It acts as a guarantee that immigration consultants will comply with applicable rules, including the California Business and Professions Code (Chapter 19.5). It’s also an extra layer of protection for consultants’ customers against fraud and misuse.
Similarly to other surety bonds, the California immigration consultant bond is a contract between three parties. Your consultant business is the principal that has to get the bond. The California Secretary of State is the obligee that requires your bonding. The entity that provides the bond and backs your company is the surety.
Questions about Immigration Consultant Bonds in California
Who needs to obtain a California immigration consultant bond?
It is illegal to provide immigration consultancy services without a proper license in California. That’s why anyone who wants to run such a business has to obtain a license from the Secretary of State. Consultants need to know the specificities of the immigration process, the necessary documents, and the cases in which customers need legal help beyond their capabilities.
Besides compliance with state laws, the bond specifically provides protection for consultants’ customers, against fraudulent activities that a consultant might engage in. These include charging unneeded fees, making false statements or guarantees, and instigating towards fraud, among others.
Your bond cost is calculated on the basis of the bond amount that you have to post to get a California immigration consultant license. It’s currently set at $100,000, and needs to be renewed every two years.
While this bond amount may appear considerable, your bond premium is only a fraction of it. You’ll likely need to cover only 1%-5% of this amount to get bonded.
How is your bond price set? Your surety takes a close look at your personal and business finances. It examines your personal credit score, business records, assets and liquidity, as well as industry experience. If these factors are stable, you will have to pay a lower bond premium.
You can check our surety bond cost page for a complete overview of how your surety bond cost is determined.
Bond Type | Surety Bond Amount | Credit Sore | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Above 700 | Between 650-699 | Between 600-649 | Below 599 | ||
California Immigration Consultant Bond | $100,000 | $750-$1,500 | $1,000-$2,500 | $2,500-$5,000 | $5,000-$10,000 |
Can I get bonded with bad credit?
Lance Surety Bonds runs its Bad Credit Surety Bonds program to help consultants with low credit scores, tax liens, bankruptcies, or civil judgements get the bonds they need.
If you have problematic finances, you can expect rates in the range of 5%-10%. The higher bond price is there to compensate for the increased bonding risk. Because of our close partnerships with a number of A-rated, T-listed surety companies, we can choose the best bonding option for your particular situation.
How do I get my California immigration consultant bond?
Apply online to get your free California immigration consultant bond quote right away. We will deliver your exact bond price once you submit your full application and paperwork.
If you would like to learn in detail about the bonding process, you can consult our How to Get Bonded page.
For further information, don’t hesitate to call us at (877) 514-5146. Lance Surety Bonds’ specialists will be happy to assist you.
What happens in case of a claim against me?
Bonds are not the same as insurance. They do not protect your business, but your customers. If you break state laws– by engaging in fraud, for example– you can face a claim against your bond. Such cases include providing fake services, encouraging your customers to lie on their immigration application, and imposing illegal fees.
Claimants may be reimbursed in case of proven claims. The maximum penal sum of the bond is the largest compensation they can receive. While your surety will cover these expenses at first, you will need to repay it in full. That’s why claims are a financial threat to your consultancy and should be avoided as much as possible.
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