Returning to the U.S. After Conviction

[homesick203]

Hello,

I lived in the US from the time I was 6 years old. I got involved with the wrong crowd and 5 days after my 18th birthday I did a carjacking. I was convicted for this and served 3 years in a max security prison. Because I was not a citizen deportation proceedings began. After doing 3 years all I wanted was to be free and I didn't fight the deportation proceedings. I was deported back to Belgium with no possibility of re-entry.
In the meantime I have completely changed my life. I became an RN, got married and have wonderful friends and family. I take complete responsibility for what I did and who I was back then and do not expect to be let back into the US to live and I wouldn't want to. What I would love is that all of this could be erased from my record and that if I want to take a vacation to the US that I am able to. I am not a violent criminal. I was young and dumb but have changed my life.
I work for an American company and if I were to get promoted that would include travel and I would have to decline the promotion.
What can I do to change this? How much will it cost? and what are the chances of being succesfull?

Thank you.

[T53147]

You need to consult a US attorney. Cost varies by area and complexity of the case; I would expect tens of thousands of dollars to pursue this past an initial consult. Choose an attorney and firm in the state where you committed the crime; a firm with practices in both immigration and criminal law would be ideal or the the attorney or firm which initially represented you.

I will comment that I am surprised that you were licensed as a nurse with your criminal background. Carjacking is a violent crime against a person. I would also be amazed if you would ever be granted entry but much about immigration law surprises me these days.

[Smiley69]

@T53147 a conviction in the US has nothing to with your achievements in other countries. SO unless you are a terrorists or have an Interpol warrant there isnt anything stopping him for being a RN. He has broken any laws in Belgium as far as he has stated.

[Dogmatique]

Actually, convictions from other countries can severely hamper licensing capabilities.

(The UK is a great example of this. If you're convicted of certain things elsewhere, you can absolutely be restricted from obtaining a license to practice law for example).

[cyjeff]

As to the questions at hand....

If you have been permanently banned, that is what it is.

Those are almost NEVER waived... but it will cost you the services of a US and Belgium attorney to work it out.