i came to the u.s in 1996 to take care of my sister who was very ill. she had a three year old son that needed taken care of while she was hospitalized. i immediately tried to get a work permit so i could make ends meet but was denied and placed in removal proceedings.i met my husband and had my son during this time. he was a student at the time and was here on a 7 year student visa. in the end i was given voluntary departure. i left in 1999. in may of 2000 my sister passed away . as i was now married i used my marital name and managed to get a b1/b2 visa valid for 1 year. i was heavily pregnant at this time and could not make it to her funeral. so i did not use this visa. i gave birth to my son and stayed in my country until i got another visa in 2002 this time valid for three years. i travelled to the u.s in 2003 and have been here since. i was apprehended by i.c.e this past june and was told they came after me because their records showed i had violated my voluntary departure order by not leaving. i was able to prove to them that i had left because of my son who was born back home. i am at this time a visa overstay so i have been put under deportation proceedings. what i don't know is how long are you ineligible for reentry after having left on a voluntary departure order? i thought it was three years so i was not worried about returning when i did. now i am afraid i might be in trouble for returning too soon. i have a hearing in 8 weeks and can not afford an attorny i have been searching the web to get an idea of just how much trouble i am in. are there any waivers?

