Denied Voluntary Departure

[PatsFan1286]

Thank you all for your input to these forums; they are tremendously helpful.

Here is my situation. I'm an Irish citizen currently living in the US. I had my last appearance in front of an IJ in Sept of '08. I applied for Adjustment of Status and Voluntary Departure in the alternative. Both motions were denied. I filed the appeal within the given 30 days and my case is now in front of the OAA. I am only hoping to have the Voluntary Departure decision overturned. I would just assume drop the appeal, buy a plane ticket and return to Ireland. My problem is this; I am currently free on a $10,000 cash bond. I am under the impression that if I just leave, this will forfeit this bond. Can anyone tell me if I am correct in this assumption or if there is a way around this? I have contacted my Consulate and they suggested that if I leave I may be able to produce myself at the American Embassy in Ireland to prove that I have indeed departed the US. I am trying to avoid the 6-8 week detention before removal. Any advise or input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dafortycal]

Talk with your deportation officer, agree to drop the appeal, and work out a deal where you get a order of supervision and do a self-deport, buy your own ticket and depending on where your flight leaves from, maybe they do a witnessed departure. It is a easy fix...

If that doesn't work, ask for them to get the arraingments made, and have your report for detention a couple of days prior to your removal. Once you depart, your bond will be returned to the payee in about 4 to 6 months. Do you have a criminal history that would require ICE to escort you all the way?

 

[PatsFan1286]

Thanks for the advice. I will contact ICE to see if something can be arranged. I will be leaving out of Boston, MA, so the witnessed departure may be a possibility. There is nothing in my criminal history (all driving offences) that would require an escort during my removal. You would think that they would be receptive to such an arrangement to have my case cleared and save the taxpayers the cost of my incarceration and removal.

 

[dafortycal]

The government doesn't like holding people at $80.00 a day plus, it is a win-win for the government. There is no harm in asking...

Thanks for the advice. I will contact ICE to see if something can be arranged. I will be leaving out of Boston, MA, so the witnessed departure may be a possibility. There is nothing in my criminal history (all driving offences) that would require an escort during my removal. You would think that they would be receptive to such an arrangement to have my case cleared and save the taxpayers the cost of my incarceration and removal.