Q: If I don't appear in court and go back to home country, will I be able to travel back to USA in future ?
I met with accident driving without licence. Accident caused property damage. No personal injuries.
I appeared in court for bench trial. I have got next court date on 04/13/2015.
I am in USA on H1B Visa. Visa validity is till May 2016. But my current project is getting over on 03/31/2015 and my employer will send me back to home country on 03/31/2015. I have got travel tickets from employer.
What if I dont appear in court on next court date? Will I be able to travel back to USA in future ?
As my employer is sending me back to home country, whether employer will face any legal action ?
A:
If you fail to appear in court, a warrant will issue for your arrest. If you attempt to re-enter the US, there are several things that could happen. They could arrest you at the border and seek to extradite you. They could inform you that you need to take care of the case and take your passport until you do. They could refuse entry and make you go back home.
What was the result of the bench trial? If, as I suspect, you were convicted of an offense, your next hearing is sentencing, where the court will impose some penalty. You should get yourself a lawyer and see if the date can be moved up to before you are scheduled to depart and what can be worked out to get a sentence that won't interfere with your immigration status or require you to remain in the US.
None of this has anything to do with your employer really, unless it was their vehicle, in which case they could face legal action for wrongful entrustment.
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