How Do I Know I Have Accrued Unlawful Presence?

Read on to hear Immigration Attorney Rolando Casais, Jr. explain what to do if you have accrued Unlawful Presence.

There are two ways you could have accrued unlawful presence in the United States and Casais & Prias, PLLC. is here to explain what you need to know.

The first is if you are in the United States without having been inspected or admitted into the country by an immigration officer. In other words, you are unlawfully present if you entered the United States by crossing the border at a place other than a designated port of entry and/or without having been inspected by an immigration officer. If you crossed the border without inspection, you began to accrue unlawful presence in the United States on the day you entered the country.

The second way to accrue unlawful presence is if you remain in the United States past the period of time granted to you when you entered the country. Specifically, you are unlawfully present in the United States if you came into the country with a visa, were admitted and inspected by an immigration officer, but you did not leave by the date you were supposed to leave by. If you stayed in the United States past the specific date you were required to leave by, you typically start to accrue unlawful presence in the United States the day after you were supposed to leave.

In either of these circumstances, it is incredibly important that you seek the legal aid of an experienced attorney to assist you through your next steps. At Casais & Prias, our attorneys have over ten years of experience working on immigration cases and are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively approach your situation.

What are the Penalties of an Unlawful Presence in the United States?

If you depart the United States after having accrued more than 180 days but less than one year of unlawful presence, you may be barred from entering the United States for a period of three years. If you depart the United States after having accrued more than one year of unlawful presence, you may be barred from entering the United States for a period of ten years. If the three or ten-year unlawful presence bar applies to you, you usually cannot get a U.S. visa, enter the U.S., or obtain any immigration benefits (such as permanent residency).

However there are legal exceptions to the three and ten-year bar, such as for immediate relatives, VAWA self-petitioners, and certain special immigrants, to name a few.

How Can Casais & Prias Help If I Have Accrued Unlawful Presence?

If you believe that you have accrued unlawful presence in the United States and are subject to the three or ten-year bar, it is very important that you contact an experienced immigration attorney. Contact the Law Office of Casais and Prias today.