Immigration sponsors who went to collect refunds for immigration bonds from the Immigration Office were told there’s no money to pay them. A missionary from Singapore has been trying to collect a refund for the immigration bond of a colleague who left the territory several months ago. She explained that all the paperwork she needed were signed by the Attorney General. And it’s been over a month since she’s been checking on the bond payment but has been told that there’s no money. An official of the Attorney General’s office told KHJ News they have done their part but it ‘s Treasury’s responsibility to pay the refunds. A Treasury officer told KHJ News that it’s been a month since they haven’t issued any immigration bond refunds. Alex Suafo’a of Accounts Payable says they take their orders from their superiors…the treasurer or deputy treasurer. He says there’s a pile of requests for immigration bond refunds sitting on his desk but payment is dependent on availability of funds. Before they stopped issuing immigration bond refunds Treasury was issuing refunds every week. Suafo’a pointed out that the amount of money needed to cover the bond money is substantial. And Treasury can only pay based on the availability of funds. The immigration bonds are paid by sponsors of foreigners who apply to the Immigration Board for permission to reside here on a yearly basis. The bonds vary in amounts and are equal to the cost of a round trip ticket to an immigrant’s country of origin. The Treasury official who talked to KHJ News said they are searching for available local funds to cover the immigration bond refunds.
