Your ability to return to the United States after deportation will depend on the reason for your deportation and whether there are any available waivers in your situation. Deportations for unlawful presence are 3 or 10 years depending on the length of time you were unlawfully present in the USA. Deportations for fraud, crimes, repeated entries, and other more serious immigration violations may be longer or even permanent. Some individuals who are deported can later file Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States; this application is difficult to win, but it may be worth a try if the deported person has sufficient mitigating circumstances to justify a return to the United States.