Does an Employment-Authorized Self Check Result Mean My Status Changed After Deportation?
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed January 1, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
I was in the United States from 2013 until 2015, when I was deported because I could not comply with the requirements of my F-1 student visa status. Before I was deported, the airport customs officer told me that I could apply for a US visa again after five years. It has now been more than ten years, and I have never reapplied. Around the time I was deported, I applied for a Social Security number and received my Social Security card in the mail. The card includes the note "Work must be authorized by DHS." Recently, I checked my work authorization status on the myE-Verify Self Check website, and it says "Congratulations, you're authorized to work! Employment Authorized." Does this mean I have become a lawful permanent resident or citizen of the United States, or that my visa status changed automatically after a certain number of years? If not, how can I confirm what is actually happening with my Social Security number and my status, and is there a way I can come back to the United States, whether as a citizen, a green card holder, or otherwise?
No I didn't do any of the following.
Attorney Answer
No, an Employment Authorized result on myE-Verify Self Check does not mean you became a US citizen, a green card holder, or that your visa status changed automatically. Status does not change on its own just because time has passed, and this result is not the same as a status determination by USCIS.
The Self Check tool compares the information on file with the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security to what an employer would see if they ran an E-Verify check on you. A result like Employment Authorized simply means the records currently on file did not flag a mismatch at that moment. It does not confirm your current immigration status, and records like this can sometimes be outdated, incomplete, or based on information from years ago, including from before your deportation. It also does not override or update your actual immigration record with USCIS or Customs and Border Protection.
Your Social Security card noting that work must be authorized by DHS reflects the same thing: your Social Security number itself never granted you work authorization. It simply flags that separate DHS authorization, such as a visa or work permit, was required for you to legally work, and that requirement has not gone away.
On the deportation itself, being removed from the US generally creates a bar to lawful reentry for a period of years under federal law (INA § 212(a)(9)(A)), commonly five or ten years depending on how the removal happened. Whether five years, ten years, or a different rule applies to your case depends on the specific type of removal order in your file, not on what an officer mentioned verbally at the time. Since more than ten years have passed, you may be outside the bar period, but this needs to be confirmed against your actual immigration records before you apply for anything.
What to do next:
1. Do not attempt to travel to or enter the US before this is reviewed. Entering improperly now could create a much more serious, longer-lasting bar. 2. Request your immigration records. An attorney can help you request your file, including your removal order, through official channels. 3. Consult an immigration attorney about whether you need a waiver, such as Form I-212, before applying for a new visa. 4. Do not rely on the Self Check result or your Social Security card notation as evidence of your immigration status for any application.
This is general legal information, not legal advice about your specific record. A Texas-based immigration attorney can pull your actual removal history and tell you exactly where you stand and what steps, if any, get you back to the US lawfully.
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Federal Immigration Resources
- Visit U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to check case status, forms, and official immigration guidance.
- Visit Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) to find immigration court information and hearing details.
- Visit ImmigrationLawHelp.org to find nonprofit immigration legal-service providers near you.
- Use the LSC — Find Legal Aid to find a local legal-aid office by ZIP code.
- Use the ABA Lawyer Referral Directory to get matched with a local attorney through your state bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does time passing automatically fix an old deportation or expired visa status?
No. Immigration status does not update or restore itself simply because years have gone by. You generally need to apply again through the proper process, and any bar from a prior removal needs to be addressed first.
What is myE-Verify Self Check, and does it prove my legal status?
It is a free tool that lets you check how your information compares to Social Security and Department of Homeland Security records, similar to what an employer would see through E-Verify. It is not an official determination of your immigration status and should not be relied on as proof of status.
How long is the bar on reentering the US after a deportation?
It depends on the type of removal order, but federal law commonly sets it at five or ten years. The exact length in your case depends on details in your official removal record, which an attorney can help you obtain and review.
