Coming back to the US legally for PhD
 

I lived in the US for more than 10 years illegally, about 4 years after the age of 18, then voluntarily left to go back to my native country. So I guess I have a 10-year bar. I have been living in my home country for about 3 years now, and wondering if there are any chances of me going back to the US legally again... I have a M.S. in an engineering field, so is it possibly for me to apply to PhD programs in the US and get a waiver for my 10-year ban? Has anyone gone through this process before? Many thanks in advance.

Re: Coming back to the US legally for PhD
 

Don't think so, try Canada, they're alot more immigration friendly

Re: Coming back to the US legally for PhD
 

Age 18? Did you come on a visa that since expired? In that case you either have no bar or you have a 3 year bar. If you didn't have a visa and entered without inspection it might be different. But still, EWI means they wouldn't know how long you've been in country. So either no bar or 3 year bar. Check out the law itself on USCIS website. There's different situations that lead to different outcomes and only you would know the specifics.

Furthermore not everyone gets tagged as leaving. When you left did you do it through an airport? When I left on advance parole I had ABSOLUTELY no dealings with immigration. The Arline told me to bring my i-94 but there was no one to give it to. Not that I would have brought it, I would of showed the advance parole document but no on cared to see/ask for it. No exit verification AT ALL in my case. The TSA guy spent barely 3 seconds looking at my passport. Did not scan it, just held it in his hands and gave it back.

Re: Coming back to the US legally for PhD
 

Did they fingerprint you when you LEFT the country? Because they only started doing that a few years ago and I've had friends overstay their visas for a couple of years and then come back again as a tourist. It might be worth a try.

Re: Coming back to the US legally for PhD
 

Same here!!!!!

Re: Coming back to the US legally for PhD
 

Yeah there might be hope for you, you said you left at the age 18. If you did not stay longer than 6 months past your 18th b day, you only triggered the 3 year ban. The 10 year ban is only triggered after you start accumulating unlawful presence after your 18 1/2 year. I might be incorrect, but if I am someone here might shed more light on this matter.

Re: Coming back to the US legally for PhD
 

You might want to wait for immigration reform, I heard something about people who were deported could come back at some scope, not sure how far this goes, but it could be a possibility for you , even though you left voluntarily, I guess you just have to wait and see, but don't get your hopes up too much, but you never know.

Re: Coming back to the US legally for PhD
 

"I lived in the US for more than 10 years illegally, about 4 years after the age of 18, then voluntarily left to go back to my native country."

Seems to me he left at the age of 22.

Re: Coming back to the US legally for PhD
 

It might actually be possible to come back,but you will still have an "immigration" bar even with a non-immigrant visa waiver.Any employer that may want to potentially sponsor you for US residency would have to wait until the immigration bar is up.