A grant of voluntary departure allows removable aliens to leave the U.S. within a prescribed timeframe at their own expense. Voluntary departure also allows removable aliens to avoid some of the consequences of a removal order. For example, someone who voluntarily departs is not automatically barred from legally returning to the U.S. at a later date.

A respondent may request voluntary departure throughout the removal process, but the requirements become more rigorous as the process proceeds. As a general matter, aliens found to be removable due to an aggravated felony (as defined in immigration law) or terrorist activities, or to otherwise be a security risk to the U.S. are ineligible for voluntary departure at any stage.

Aliens may request voluntary departure at their master calendar hearing before the immigration judge. When aliens ask for voluntary departure prior to the conclusion of removal proceedings, they must give up their right to any other form of relief from removal and waive their right of appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), among other conditions.

An immigration judge may grant up to 120 days to depart. If travel documents are not immediately available to an alien, an immigration judge may grant up to 120 days to voluntarily depart on the condition that the alien secure travel documents and present them to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) within 60 days. If the alien does not produce the travel documents, the voluntary departure order is vacated and the alien is ordered removed from the U.S.

Aliens may also request voluntary departure from the immigration judge at their individual hearing. Aliens requesting voluntary departure at this stage must meet several requirements. They must:

• have been physically present in the U.S. for at least one year before the date DHS issued the Notice to Appear (NTA);

• have been a person of good moral character for the five years preceding the request;

• not be deportable as an aggravated felon or terrorist;

• demonstrate the ability to leave the U.S. at their own expense (including the ability to present valid travel documents); and

• demonstrate the financial ability to post a bond of no less than $500.

The alien must also demonstrate that he or she warrants a favorable exercise of the court’s discretion. An immigration judge in this circumstance may grant up to 60 days for the alien to leave the U.S.

It is also important to note that aliens may request voluntary departure from DHS in advance of their first hearing before an immigration judge. In this circumstance, an alien may be required to depart immediately or be given up to 120 days to leave the U.S. The alien and DHS can agree to up to 120 days of voluntary departure at any time prior to the completion of the final hearing before the immigration judge.

In Kentucky, as in all states, the regulation of voluntary departure for removable aliens is governed by federal immigration law, as immigration is a federal matter. Voluntary departure allows removable aliens to leave the U.S. at their own expense within a specific timeframe, which helps them avoid some of the consequences of a formal removal order, such as being barred from legally returning to the U.S. in the future. The option to request voluntary departure is available at different stages of the removal process, with varying requirements. For instance, at the master calendar hearing before an immigration judge, an alien must waive the right to appeal and any other forms of relief from removal. An immigration judge may grant up to 120 days for departure, with conditions for obtaining travel documents. If requested at the individual hearing stage, the alien must meet additional criteria, including physical presence in the U.S. for a certain period, good moral character, and the ability to pay a bond. The maximum period granted at this stage is usually up to 60 days. Aliens ineligible for voluntary departure include those with aggravated felony convictions, terrorist activities, or who pose a security risk. It's also possible to request voluntary departure directly from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) before the first hearing with an immigration judge, with the possibility of up to 120 days to depart. These federal regulations apply uniformly across the U.S., including in Kentucky.