California — Immigration Consultant Bond
California immigration consultants must file $100,000 security with the Secretary of State before acting in that capacity. Prepare your consultant/DBA identity and disclosure documents, then apply through The Southern Agency. The bond is one qualification step, not permission to give legal advice.
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- Recorded state
- California
- Category
- Professional & occupational licenses
What this bond does
Business and Professions Code 22443.1 requires this bond for covered immigration consulting, conditioned on compliance with the chapter. The consultant role under 22441 is nonlegal assistance, such as translating answers or submitting completed forms at the client’s request—not advising clients how to answer.
- Who needs it
- Applicants qualifying as California immigration consultants and maintaining the required Secretary of State filing. Match the consultant and business information across the bond and disclosure rather than substituting an unrelated trade name.
- Who it protects
- The bond is payable to the People of California for people damaged by specified fraud, misstatements, misrepresentation, unlawful acts or omissions, or failure to provide services. The statute includes representatives, agents and employees acting within their work’s scope and limits aggregate liability to $100,000.
Your bond option
This is the option on record for this bond.
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The bond amount describes the limit of the bond obligation, not the price. A listed amount does not establish what the requesting party requires. The premium is what you pay and must be confirmed for the actual option. An E&O limit, where listed, is separate errors and omissions insurance.
Sources
- California BPC22443.1: bond and protected parties (opens in a new tab)Checked October 21, 2026
- California BPC22441: nonlegal consultant role (opens in a new tab)Checked October 21, 2026
- Secretary of State: immigration consultant checklist (opens in a new tab)Checked October 21, 2026
- Secretary of State: qualification and timely continuation (opens in a new tab)Checked October 21, 2026
- Secretary of State SF-SB-460: official immigration consultant bond (opens in a new tab)Checked October 21, 2026
Have these ready
- Consultant principal name, DBA and address for service matching the disclosure.
- $100,000 request and accepted form, with at least 24-month term instructions.
- Disclosure, valid photo ID, passport-style photo, and background-check requirements.
- Existing expiration and advance continuation-filing plan, if renewing.
Questions about this bond
Does this authorize immigration legal advice?
No. Section 22441 limits the consultant role to nonlegal assistance. For example, completing a form is distinct from advising a client what answers to give.
Is the $100,000 limit renewed for every client’s claim?
The statute sets a $100,000 total aggregate limit, not a separate unlimited amount for each client or claim.
Can I file a continuation after the old bond expires?
The Secretary of State says late continuations are returned unfiled. Its instructions require qualification again, including a new bond, disclosure and background check, before resuming covered work.