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Title 8, Aliens and NationalityRelease 119-102

§1183 Admission of Aliens on Giving Bond or Undertaking; Return Upon Permanent Departure

Title 8 › CHAPTER 12 — IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY › SUBCHAPTER II — IMMIGRATION › Part II — Admission Qualifications for Aliens; Travel Control of Citizens and Aliens › § 1183

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

A person barred under paragraph (4) of section 1182(a) may be let into the United States if the Attorney General agrees, if they meet the affidavit-of-support rules in section 1183a, and if they give a bond or guarantee approved by the Attorney General in the amount and on the terms the Attorney General sets. The bond must protect the U.S. and state or local governments against costs if the person becomes a public charge. The bond ends when the person permanently leaves, becomes a citizen, or dies, and any money or security is returned unless forfeited for breaking the bond. Federal or local officials can sue to recover the bond for the government even without a prior demand for payment.

Full Legal Text

Title 8, §1183

Aliens and Nationality, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

An alien inadmissible under paragraph (4) of section 1182(a) of this title may, if otherwise admissible, be admitted in the discretion of the Attorney General (subject to the affidavit of support requirement and attribution of sponsor’s income and resources under section 1183a of this title) upon the giving of a suitable and proper bond or undertaking approved by the Attorney General, in such amount and containing such conditions as he may prescribe, to the United States, and to all States, territories, counties, towns, municipalities, and districts thereof holding the United States and all States, territories, counties, towns, municipalities, and districts thereof harmless against such alien becoming a public charge. Such bond or undertaking shall terminate upon the permanent departure from the United States, the naturalization, or the death of such alien, and any sums or other security held to secure performance thereof, except to the extent forfeited for violation of the terms thereof, shall be returned to the person by whom furnished, or to his legal representatives. Suit may be brought thereon in the name and by the proper law officers of the United States for the use of the United States, or of any State, territory, district, county, town, or municipality in which such alien becomes a public charge, irrespective of whether a demand for payment of public expenses has been made.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–208, § 564(f), inserted “(subject to the affidavit of support requirement and attribution of sponsor’s income and resources under section 1183a of this title)” after “in the discretion of the Attorney General”. Pub. L. 104–208, § 308(d)(3)(A), substituted “inadmissible” for “excludable”. 1990—Pub. L. 101–649 substituted “(4)” for “(7) or (15)” and inserted before period at end “, irrespective of whether a demand for payment of public expenses has been made” after “becomes a public charge”. 1970—Pub. L. 91–313 substituted provisions admitting, under the specified conditions, an alien excludable under pars. (7) or (15) of section 1182(a) of this title, for provisions admitting, under the specified conditions, any alien excludable because of the likelihood of becoming a public charge or because of physical disability other than tuberculosis in any form, leprosy, or a dangerous contagious disease, and struck out provisions authorizing a cash deposit with the Attorney General in lieu of a bond, such amount to be deposited in the United States Postal Savings System, and provisions that the admission of the alien be consideration for the giving of the bond, undertaking, or cash deposit.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by section 308(d)(3)(A) of Pub. L. 104–208 effective, with certain transitional provisions, on the first day of the first month beginning more than 180 days after Sept. 30, 1996, see section 309 of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title. Amendment by section 564(f) of Pub. L. 104–208 effective Sept. 30, 1996, see section 591 of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–649 applicable to individuals entering United States on or after June 1, 1991, see section 601(e)(1) of Pub. L. 101–649, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title. Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and

Transfer of Functions

For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service,

Transfer of Functions

, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

8 U.S.C. § 1183

Title 8, Aliens and Nationality

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102