If you were ordered removed (or deported) from the U.S., you must remain outside of the country for either five, ten, or 20 years. It's even possible that you will not be allowed to return to the U.S. at all.

However, some deportees can return to the U.S. on a visa even before their required time outside the country expires. To do this, you should understand the circumstances surrounding your order of removal, what options are available to you, and what type of waiver (or legal forgiveness) you will need.

First, Make Sure an Immigration Judge Ordered You Removed

If you are unsure whether or not an Immigration Judge (IJ) actually issued an order of removal against you, take steps to find out. This is particularly important if you were ever told to go to immigration court, but you don’t know or can’t remember whether you went or what happened there.

Some of the possibilities include that the IJ:

• ordered you removed (deported) because you didn't show up for your court hearing
• ordered you removed (deported) at the end of your court hearing, or
• instead of ordering you deported at the end of your hearing, granted your request for voluntary departure, which allowed you to leave the U.S. before a set date without facing the legal consequences of a removal order.

If you were granted voluntary departure, but failed to leave by the appointed date, the voluntary departure automatically converted to an order of removal. Also realize that even if you voluntarily departed the U.S., you may still be inadmissible for a number of years depending on how much unlawful presence you accrued while in the United States. To learn more, see Consequences of Unlawful Presence in the U.S.—Three and Ten Year Time Bars.

To check whether the IJ issued an order of removal, call the Immigration Court customer service line at 1-800-898-7180 (if you’re in the U.S.) and follow the electronic prompts.

Look to the Circumstances of Your Removal to Determine How Long to Wait to Reenter U.S.

If you do, in fact, have a deportation or removal order in your immigration file, it's possible that you aren't allowed to enter the U.S. for five, ten, or 20 years.

The applicable law comes from Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (I.N.A.).

Five-Year Ban: If you were summarily removed or deported upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry because you were found inadmissible, or if you came to the U.S. but were immediately put into removal proceedings and then removed or deported, you may be ineligible to return to the U.S. for five years. The five-year ban also applies if you failed to show up for your removal hearing in the United States.

Ten-Year Ban: If an IJ issued a removal order at the conclusion of your removal hearing in Immigration Court, you may not be able to return for ten years after your removal or departure.

Twenty-Year Ban: If you were convicted of an aggravated felony or have received more than one order of removal, you are barred from returning to the U.S. for 20 years. And if you were entered without permission after having been removed, or illegally reentered the U.S. after having previously been in the U.S. unlawfully for more than one year, you may be be barred from entering the United States for 20 years or permanently (in that you'll need special consent to return).

Options for Return to the U.S. After Removal

If you were ordered removed from the U.S., there are limited options that might enable you to return legally.

You can attempt to return to live in the U.S. on an immigrant visa or green card, through sponsorship by an employer or a family member. You might also qualify for a nonimmigrant visa, such as a tourist visa or a student visa.

To do any of these, however, you would need to apply for a waiver that could “forgive” your prior removal order and give you permission to reenter the U.S. with the visa or green card.

To learn more about applying for permission to enter the U.S. after deportation, see After Removal: Possibilities for Reentry to the U.S.

If you have a 20-year ban against you, however, you must wait until you have been outside the U.S. for at least ten years before applying for a waiver.

Immigration Attorney Can Help You Reenter the U.S.

Returning to the U.S. after removal is a complicated and difficult process. It's best to seek legal assistance as soon as possible, to discuss your case and the options available to you. Some attorneys may work with you remotely even if you are not physically present in the United States.