Many immigrants are feeling exhausted, frustrated, intimidated, and deeply uncertain under the Trump administration’s immigration policies and enforcement priorities. Some have lost hope that their cases will be resolved fairly or within a reasonable time, while others no longer feel secure building their lives in the United States. I am writing this practical guide because people who decide to leave often do not know how to properly close their immigration cases, businesses, accounts, insurance policies, leases, and other obligations—and mistakes made during departure can create serious financial, tax, credit, or immigration problems later.

The following information is useful for anyone planning to leave the United States, whether temporarily or permanently, who has pending immigration applications, employment, housing, financial accounts, insurance policies, vehicles, business interests, or other ongoing obligations in the United States. Before departure, it is important to review any pending matters with USCIS, preserve proof of departure, update contact information, and properly close or transfer personal, financial, tax, employment, housing, insurance, and business obligations.

Careful planning can help prevent unnecessary fees, legal problems, damaged credit, tax complications, or difficulties with future immigration or visa applications.

IMPORTANT STEPS TO UNDERTAKE BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Determine whether the departure is temporary or permanent. This decision controls whether the person should preserve the TPS case and seek travel permission or withdraw the pending applications and close their U.S. affairs.
Review the complete immigration history before departure. Confirm the UHP parole expiration date, TPS filing date, any asylum or other pending applications, removal proceedings, arrests, and possible unlawful presence. Departure may create future immigration consequences, including possible three-year or ten-year inadmissibility bars.
For temporary travel with an intended return, file Form I-131 and wait for approval before leaving. Leaving while the TPS application is pending without advance travel permission may lead to denial or abandonment issues. Even with approved travel permission, admission back into the United States is not guaranteed.
For permanent departure, withdraw the pending immigration filings. Send USCIS a signed written request to withdraw Form I-821 and any related pending Form I-765 or Form I-131. Advance parole is not required merely to leave the United States permanently.
Understand that most (but not all) statuses you currently may hold (like pending Asylum application) end when you depart.
Consider reporting your planned departure through the CBP Home app, formerly known as CBP One. The app allows eligible individuals to submit an Intent to Depart, request available travel assistance, and report their departure to the U.S. government.
- Speak with an immigration lawyer before registering. Using CBP Home is not legally required simply to leave the United States, and submitting information through the app may affect pending immigration applications, removal proceedings, unlawful-presence issues, and the ability to return legally in the future.
- To qualify for the CBP Home departure $ payment, the person must register through the app, submit an Intent to Depart, and provide identity and travel information. They should keep copies of their passport, selfie verification, airline ticket, itinerary, boarding pass, passport entry stamp, proof of lawful entry into the destination country, and all app confirmations. Payment is generally issued only after the government verifies that the person actually departed the United States and arrived in a country where they may legally reside.

Prepare a complete USCIS withdrawal package for any of your pending USCIS cases. Include the person’s full name, date of birth, A-number, receipt numbers, current address, anticipated departure date, a clear request to withdraw the applications, signature, passport biographic page, and copies of the USCIS receipt notices. Every family member should sign the letter to withdraw if they are included in the pending case. The withdrawal request should be signed with “wet” signatures, dated, and attach a copy of your ID (like Employment Authorization).
Submit the withdrawal request properly. Upload it through the USCIS online account when available and mail a copy to the USCIS office listed on the receipt notice. Keep copies and proof of delivery.
Update the mailing address and preserve access to USCIS accounts. Keep access to the USCIS online account, email address, and telephone number. Consider using a trusted U.S. mailing address or keeping the attorney’s representation active until the withdrawal is confirmed.
Keep strong proof of departure. Save the airline ticket, boarding pass, itinerary, passport stamps, and proof of arrival in another country. Keep these records permanently in case the departure date becomes important in a future immigration application.
Close employment matters. Give written notice, obtain the final paycheck, confirm any payment for unused benefits, return company equipment, download pay statements, and arrange for electronic or overseas delivery of the final W-2 or 1099.
Terminate the lease and household accounts properly. Give the landlord the required written notice, complete a move-out inspection, photograph the property, provide a forwarding address, and obtain confirmation regarding the security deposit. Close electricity, gas, internet, phone, storage, security, and subscription accounts.
Cancel insurance at the correct time. Close health, Marketplace, renters, homeowners, automobile, professional, workers’ compensation, and business insurance policies. Do not cancel automobile or property insurance before the vehicle or property is sold or transferred.
Resolve vehicles and transportation accounts. Sell or transfer the vehicle, complete the title paperwork, cancel registration or surrender plates if required, remove toll tags, pay parking tickets and toll balances, and cancel insurance after the transfer is completed.
Organize credit cards, debts, and taxes. Pay off all your debts – credit card debt, loans, mortgages, and any tax debt. Close out any bank accounts you will not be able to access from outside the U.S.
Banking. Generally, do not close your U.S. bank accounts immediately before departure. Keep at least one account open until all final paychecks, security deposits, tax refunds, insurance refunds, pending checks, automatic payments, and business transactions have cleared. Closing too early can cause payments to be rejected or create fees.

Before leaving, the person should:

Update the bank with a reliable mailing address, email, foreign telephone number, and two-factor authentication method.
Ask whether the bank permits the account to remain open for a customer living outside the United States.
Keep enough money in the account to cover pending charges and fees.
Keep the account open through the final U.S. tax filing and expected refund, when practical.
Close it only after all transactions have cleared, or maintain it if the bank allows overseas account holders and the person expects future U.S. payments or obligations.

Stop Automatic Payments and Stop Direct Deposits. Stop automatic payments, pay or formally settle outstanding balances, collect refunds and deposits, update two-factor authentication, and keep at least one working account until all final payments and tax refunds clear. Stop all direct deposits.
Consult a tax professional regarding final federal and state tax returns.
Legally close the Corporate or LLC and business accounts. Approve a written dissolution, file dissolution or cancellation documents with the state, close sales-tax and payroll accounts, cancel licenses, permits, DBA names, and registered-agent services, pay employees and contractors, issue final W-2s or 1099s, file final federal and state tax returns, close the business bank account, and retain all business and tax records.

To legalize in the U.S. call Shepelsky Law Group today at (718)769-6352 (inside the US), or book your paid consultation directly at https://shepelskylaw.cliogrow.com/book