Leaving the U.S. sounds simple—until you’re doing it with a deportable charge on your record. That’s the situation many immigrants quietly face, especially when on work visas like L1A.
In this case, the person is on an L1A visa with an approved I-140. Their green card is stuck in backlog. Due to a personal situation that spiraled, they’re now facing a criminal charge that’s legally considered deportable.
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No jail time. Just probation, pursuant to a plea agreement. But it is sufficient to trigger removal under immigration law—even without the court imprisoning you.
The question now becomes: how to leave the U.S. without the dreaded “deported” stigma following you for the rest of your life? Such a tag not only shuts doors—it slams them on future visas, green cards, or even mere travel.
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This is not an issue about litigating the case. It’s an issue about getting out clean. And in that, timing is everything.
If you accept the plea, you must leave before immigration officials commence formal removal proceedings. If ICE beats you there, you lose that chance to leave voluntarily.
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Voluntary departure, achieved early and quietly, can rescue your record. There are no assurances, but several individuals have managed to depart without triggering a deportation marker by leaving before any notice to appear.
In situations like these, what matters isn’t so much the outcome in court—it’s what happens in the weeks that follow. A well-planned exit can be the difference between a temporary mistake and a lifelong barrier.
