Make A Plan: Results

Based on your answers, the interview helps you plan:

How to prepare yourself and your family
How to manage your property and accounts
How to manage your bills and debts

This is not legal advice. If you need legal advice, please go to Find Legal Help.

You and Your Family

You have children under 18 years old:

Talk to your children about what will happen if you are detained or deported. Reassure them by telling them about your plan.
Make sure they know who will meet them after school.
Make a list of important phone numbers and contact information for each child.
Put money aside to help pay for things your child may need.

You have someone to take care of your children:

The caregiver may need access to:

Important documents for your children (birth certificate, school, medical records or legal documents).
Instructions about your children’s medical needs.
Contact information of other relatives or people you trust.
Contact information of your children’s school or daycare. Give the school a list of people who are allowed to pick up your children.

You can ask a court to make the caregiver the “guardian” of your children. A guardian can make legal decisions for your children. Every state has different rules. Learn about the benefits and the risks of “guardianship.”

You do not have someone to take care of your children:

Find someone you trust to take care of your children if you are detained or deported. If they agree to be the caregiver, they will need access to:

Important documents for your children (birth certificate, school, medical records or legal documents).
Instructions about your children’s medical needs.
Contact information of other relatives or people you trust.
Contact information of your children’s school or daycare.

You are taking care of someone older than 17 years old:

Find someone to take care of this person. If they agree to be the caregiver, they will need access to:

Medical and legal documents.
Instructions for your family member’s dietary and medical needs.
Contact information of other relatives or people you trust.

You are taking care of someone older than 17 years old, with medical needs:

Find someone to take care of this person.
Organize their insurance information and medical records.
Make a list of their medications.
Write down the contact information for all health care providers, including: medical, dental, behavioral counselors, other specialists.
If that person agrees to be the caregiver, they will need access to:
- Medical and legal documents.
- Instructions for your family member’s dietary and medical needs.
- Contact information of other relatives or people you trust.

How to prepare yourself:

Talk to your children about what will happen if you are detained or deported. Reassure them by telling them about your plan.
Make sure they know who will meet them after school.
Make a list of important phone numbers and contact information for each child.
Put money aside to help pay for things your child may need.

Your Property and Accounts

You want to keep the house you own:

You can manage your home and make payments from another country. Ask someone you trust to help manage your home after you leave. This person can be someone who is staying in your home, or somebody else you trust.

You want to sell the house you own:

If you don’t have enough time to sell your house, you can give permission to someone you trust to sell it for you. This is called “power of attorney.”

You are not sure what to do with the house you own:

These are some options:

You can keep your home and make payments from another country. Decide whether you need someone here to help you manage the property.
You can sell your home or give someone “power of attorney” (permission) to sell it for you.
You can keep your home for now, and give someone “power of attorney” in case you decide to sell it later.

Click here to learn more about “power of attorney.”

You want to keep the house you rent:

Check whose name is on the lease. If it is your name, find out if you can add a name or if someone else can take over the lease.

You do not want to keep the house you rent:

If you don’t want to keep the house you rent, check your lease. The law about ending leases is different everywhere. Most leases require you to pay rent even if you move out. You can try to find someone to take over your lease too.

You are not sure what to do about the house you rent:

These are some options:

If you want to keep the house you rent, check whose name is on the lease. If it is your name, find out if you can add a name or if someone else can take over the lease.
If you don’t want to keep the house you rent, check your lease. The law about ending leases is different everywhere. Most leases require you to pay rent even if you move out. You can try to find someone to take over your lease too.
Speak to a legal advocate to help you decide what to do with the house you rent. Find a list of organizations in your area that might be able to help.

You want to take your car with you:

Your country might have rules about bringing a car from the U.S. Check with your home country.

You want to give your car to someone else:

You can give your car to someone as a gift. Every state has different rules on how to give your car to someone. Check with your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) for more information.

You want to sell your car:

Find out how much your car is worth. If you have a loan on the car, you can pay off the loan. You can also assign (transfer) the loan to the person who buys your car. This is more complicated. Check with your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) for more information.

You are not sure what to do with your car:

If you are unsure what to do with your car, weigh your options:

Take your car with you. Your country might have rules about bringing a car from the U.S. Check with your home country.
Give your car to someone else. You can give your car to someone as a gift. Every state has different rules on how to give your car to someone. Check with your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) for more information.
Sell your car. Find out how much your car is worth. If you have a loan on the car, you can pay off the loan. You can also assign (transfer) the loan to the person who buys your car. Check with your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) for more information.
Return your car to the lender or lessor. Check your loan or lease documents. You can end the lease and pay the rest of the amount on the lease. This way, you give the car back. You can also sell the lease to someone.

You want to close your bank account:

Ask your bank how to close your account. Find out if you can close your bank account from outside the U.S.

You want to keep your bank account:

You can keep your bank account open. Here is what you need to know:

The bank may charge extra or block your account if you use it from another country. Tell your bank if you plan to use your account from abroad.
You can add a person you trust to the account. This creates a “joint account.” The benefit is that they can help manage the account. The risk is that they can take the money.

You are not sure what to do with your bank account:

If you are not sure what to do with your bank account, weigh your options:

Close your bank account. Ask your bank how to close your account. Find out if you can close your bank account from outside the U.S.
Keep your bank account if you want to use it for bills or other expenses in the U.S. after you leave. The bank may charge you extra or block your account if you use it from another country. Tell your bank you may be using your account from abroad. You can also add a person you trust to the account. This creates a “joint account.” The benefit is that they can help manage the account. The risk is that they can take the money.

You pay for your cell phone as you go:

A cell phone from the U.S. may still work in your home country. It may need a different SIM card. Ask your phone company if your phone will work in your home country. Since your phone plan is prepaid, you can just stop using it

You have a contract for your cell phone:

Since your phone plan is a contract, you can ask your phone company how many months are left on the contract. Then ask if there is an “early termination fee.” Find out if you have to pay extra to end your contract. Save any information on your cell phone in a safe place in case the phone is lost or stolen.

Your Bills and Debts

You have a debit or credit card:

Your credit card debt will not go away after you leave the U.S. Unpaid debt can affect your credit. Lenders may try to collect what you owe after you leave the U.S.
Ask your bank if you can use your card or if they charge fees for using it outside the U.S.
Write down the name of your bank or card company, phone number, and address. Keep this information in a safe place. Someone you trust can get this information if you are detained.

You have a loan:

Your debts will not go away after you leave the U.S. If you don’t pay back your loans, the lender can try to collect from you. This can affect your ability to borrow money in the future.

Write down the lender contact information. Write down how much you owe to each lender and keep it in a safe place.
Talk to the lenders about your situation. Ask to make special arrangements with them.
Decide if you want to give someone you trust “power of attorney.” That person can make financial decisions for you.

Your loan is a mortgage:

If you do not pay the mortgage, the lender can take the property back. This is called a “foreclosure.” Debt collectors can also sue you. They can sue even if you are not in the country. Keep your mortgage and title documents in a safe place.

Your employer owes you wages for work you did:

You have the right to be paid for the work you have done even if you do not have a work permit. If your employer does not pay, you can send them a “demand letter.” This is a formal letter telling your employer to pay you. You can also file a complaint with your state’s labor office or the U.S. Department of Labor.

You have bills:

If you leave any unpaid bills, it will affect your credit. Bill collectors may come after you too. If you worry you might be detained or deported, you can add another person to the account. This person can manage the account for you. You can make a list of all your bills and accounts. Keep this list in a safe place. For each account, include:

Account number
Name of the person on the account, if that person is not you.
Contact information for the company.
How much money you owe.
How long the contract is for.

You want to cancel your health insurance policy:

Insurance policies can be cancelled. Ask your insurance company how to cancel it. Ask if you will get any money back.

You want to continue or transfer your health insurance policy:

Ask your insurance company if they cover you when you live outside the U.S. Find out if you can manage your policy from abroad. Keep your insurance documents in a safe place.

You are not sure what to do with your health insurance policy:

If you are not sure what to do with your health insurance policy, weigh your options:

Cancel your health insurance policy. Insurance policies can be cancelled. Ask your insurance company how to cancel it. Ask if you will get any money back.
Continue or transfer your health insurance policy. Ask your insurance company if they cover you when you live outside the U.S. Find out if you can manage your policy from abroad. Keep your insurance documents in a safe place.

You want to cancel your insurance:

Canceling an insurance policy can be easy. Call your insurance company and ask them to cancel your insurance plan. Sometimes you have to pay a fee and sometimes you get money back. You can also log into your account, and follow the instructions about canceling your insurance.

You want to continue or transfer your insurance:

Ask your insurance company if you can continue the policy if you live outside the U.S. Ask if you can manage your insurance from abroad.

You are not sure what to do with your insurance:

If you are not sure what to do with your insurance policy, weigh your options:

Cancel your insurance. Canceling your insurance policy can be easy. Call your insurance company and ask them to cancel your insurance plan. Sometimes you have to pay a fee and sometimes you get money back. You can also log into your account, and follow the instructions about canceling your insurance.
Continue or transfer your insurance. Ask your insurance company if you can continue the policy if you live outside the U.S. Ask if you can manage your insurance from abroad.

Next Steps

Review your results. You can print them here.
Take the immi interview to learn about your immigration options.
Go to the Learning Center to understand more about the law, your rights, how to work with a legal advocate, and more.
If you need legal help, enter your zip code below to search the legal services directory.