Breakdown of How Deported People from West Africa Can Apply to Return to the US Through a Form
- People deported from the US who are barred under INA sections 212(a)(9)(A) or (C) must file a specific form before returning
- The US government requires DHS approval of the application before any attempt to re-enter the country is made
- Returning to the US without approval after deportation could make a person permanently inadmissible under federal immigration law
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The United States government has outlined a formal process that deported or removed immigrants must follow before they can legally return to the country, centred on an application for consent to reapply for admission.
Anyone found inadmissible under sections 212(a)(9)(A) or (C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is required to file an application for permission to reapply before attempting to re-enter the United States.
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The process, governed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is also referred to as "permission to reapply."
Who needs to apply
The requirement applies to immigrants who were excluded, deported, or removed from the United States, as well as those who accumulated more than one year of unlawful presence in the country in total. Such individuals are barred from returning until they receive explicit consent under INA sections 212(a)(9)(A)(iii) or (C)(ii).
The application must be submitted and approved by DHS before the individual physically returns to the United States. Officials have stressed that the sequence matters: filing alone is not sufficient — the applicant must wait for a formal approval decision.
Risk of returning without approval
Immigrants who re-enter the United States without passing through proper inspection, or without securing the required consent after having been deported or after accruing more than one year of unlawful presence, risk being permanently barred from the country under INA section 212(a)(9)(C).
The US government has made clear that this is a strict rule, and that attempting to return before DHS processes and approves the application could have lasting legal consequences. The permanent inadmissibility provision applies regardless of how the unlawful re-entry occurs, whether through an unofficial crossing or by presenting at a port of entry without the required consent.
Immigrants who believe they fall under these inadmissibility categories are advised to confirm their status and complete the application process fully before making any travel plans to the United States.
See the US form here.
US releases fresh names and photos of 10 Nigerians to be deported
Legit.ng earlier reported that the United States government has released the names and photographs of 10 Nigerian nationals facing deportation, with the individuals held at detention facilities across several American states.
The detainees face a wide range of criminal charges, including wire fraud, identity theft, drug offences, child cruelty, and weapons possession.
Source: Legit.ng
