Thank you for all your suggestions:

I have been trying to help a friend of mine. He came to the USA legally 16 years ago on a J-1 and was ordered to leave the country on voluntary departure.He did not get any help from anyone during the Voluntary Departure...

He stayed back in the USA and was in love, got married a USC has 2 wonderful kids.He has been married for 5 years. He is extremly terrified to talk to anyone and is often worried and depressed.He is well educated and a contributing member to our society. H e does research and is employed recently.Could anyone throw light to his situation and try give positive advise. Thank you.What should he do? Any specific suggestions? Any contacts? I feel for this individual as he is a good person. Thank you.

If you have any positive suggestions and course of action i can suggest to this gentleman please do.

The same advice--get him to a good immigration lawyer (if THAT's not an oxymoron). His case his more complicated than amateur opinion can or should deal with.

A lawyer once told me that there's really not much different between being deported physically, self-deportation or voluntary departure. VD is much nicer to hear but it's just the same. The guy would find it hard to re-enter. That's why many opt to stay despite being granted VD. But if one is granted VD and doesn't leave, then he's in a worse situation.