Living in the United States may have been your dream for some time before you actually made it into the country. You may have prospered and felt at home and started to feel as if you could live the rest of your life with your family in this land of opportunity. However, if you did not come to the country through legal means or you overstayed the amount of time allotted through your visa, you could face serious issues.
The threat of deportation may have you frightened, and the idea of the government forcing you to leave the place you call home can leave you feeling devastated. However, you may have been offered the option of choosing voluntary departure rather than removal. Of course, because immigration laws can cause you confusion, you may wonder what route would suit your circumstances.
Voluntary departure vs removal
When you face deportation or other formal removal from the United States, you have no choice in whether you leave the country. The government may begin proceedings to have you removed from the country due to a lack of proper immigration status or other potential reasons. With deportation, you can face certain fines and also the possibility of losing the ability to re-enter the country at a later time.
With voluntary departure, you technically make the choice to leave the country but legal proceedings are still involved. This type of departure typically comes in after the threat of removal has come about. You would return to your native country at your own expense and must do so within the set amount of time granted by a judge. In many cases, individuals can avoid certain consequences that may come along with formal removal, but you could still face an inability to re-enter the country for some time.
Legal options
Though voluntary departure may seem like a more beneficial alternative than formal removal in some cases, it would still mean that you have to leave the country. Because you may have put down roots and created a life here that you could not begin to have in your native country, the idea of returning to that country may seem unfathomable. Luckily, you could take steps to fight the removal process.
Through the appropriate legal channels, you may have the opportunity to fight deportation. Because understanding removal, voluntary departure and your legal options may seem daunting, you may wish to consult with an experienced Texas immigration attorney to gain reliable information.