USCIS Revives Form to Ditch Immigrant Bond Burdens
Published Date: 1/22/2026
Notice
Summary
USCIS is bringing back a form that lets people ask to cancel a public charge bond, which helps immigrants avoid extra financial responsibility. They’ve made some updates and want your feedback by February 23, 2026. This affects anyone who posted a public charge bond and wants to officially cancel it, with no new fees but a chance to improve the process.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Form I-356 Returns: Cancel Public Charge Bonds
You can use USCIS Form I-356 to ask to cancel a public charge bond you posted. USCIS will cancel the bond when the alien dies, departs permanently from the United States, or is naturalized, or when USCIS determines the alien is not likely to become a public charge. USCIS will also cancel a bond after reviewing it following the fifth anniversary of the alien's admission or adjustment of status if the alien filed Form I-356 and did not receive public cash assistance for income maintenance or long-term institutionalization before that fifth anniversary.
Estimated Paperwork Burden and Cost
USCIS estimates 10 respondents will use Form I-356 annually, with an average time of 0.75 hours per response and a total annual hour burden of 7.5 hours. USCIS estimates the total annual cost burden associated with this collection is $2,500.
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Key Dates
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