Immigration court date: how to check it and what to expect

Versión en español

What are immigration proceedings?

Immigration proceedings, formally called removal proceedings, are the court case in which an immigration judge decides whether a noncitizen is inadmissible or deportable and whether they qualify for relief (INA § 240). They begin when DHS files a Notice to Appear (Form I-862) with the immigration court (8 C.F.R. § 1239.1).

How to check your immigration court date

Enter your A-Number on EOIR's online ACIS portal or call EOIR's free hotline at 1-800-898-7180. Both show your next hearing date, time and court location, and both are run by the immigration court system itself (EOIR, part of the Department of Justice).

Two official ways to check your court date

Both require your A-Number, the alien registration number that starts with the letter A and appears on your Notice to Appear and on all DHS and EOIR correspondence.

1. Online: the ACIS portal. Go to acis.eoir.justice.gov, accept the disclaimer, enter your A-Number and submit. ACIS shows basic information on the most recent primary case, including the next hearing. It does not show bond hearing information; for that, contact the immigration court.
2. By phone: 1-800-898-7180. EOIR's automated hotline is toll-free, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with menus in English and Spanish. It gives the next hearing date, time and location, the judge's decision, and BIA appeal information. Enter the 9 digits of your A-Number without the letter A; if your number has 8 digits, enter a 0 first.

If the system finds no case for your A-Number, check that you typed it correctly. Your case may not have been filed with the court yet; keep checking regularly, because a hearing can be scheduled or moved at any time.

Who is in the room

Immigration court is part of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), within the Department of Justice — not ICE, not USCIS. In the hearing you will find:

• The immigration judge, who decides the case.
• The government attorney (ICE/OPLA trial attorney), arguing for removal.
• You (the respondent) and your attorney, if you have one.
• An interpreter, free of charge, if you are not fluent in English. Always ask for one.

Many hearings, especially for detained people, are held by video (Webex). If you do not know where a relative is detained, see how to find someone detained by ICE.

The master calendar hearing

This first hearing is short — often five to fifteen minutes, with many scheduled the same morning. The judge:

1. Confirms your identity, address and language.
2. Asks whether you have a lawyer, and usually grants a continuance to find one.
3. Asks you to plead to the charges in the Notice to Appear: admit or deny each allegation.
4. Asks what relief you intend to seek and sets filing deadlines.
5. Schedules the next hearing.

This is not the moment to tell your whole story. It is procedural — but what you admit stays in the record, which is why having counsel first matters. The time between hearings varies widely by court: see how long an immigration court case takes.

The individual (merits) hearing

This is the long hearing, sometimes several hours or several sessions, where the case is decided. You and your witnesses testify under oath, the government attorney cross-examines, and documents are entered. The judge may rule orally that day or issue a written decision later.

Applications and evidence must be filed by the deadline the judge set — typically 30 days or more before the hearing. Late filings can be rejected.

Your rights

• Counsel at your own expense, or free if you can find it.
• A free interpreter.
• To review the government's evidence and present your own.
• To cross-examine government witnesses.
• To appeal.

You do not have the right to a jury or to appointed counsel, unlike in a criminal trial.

If you do not appear

If you miss your hearing, the judge must order you removed in absentia when the government shows, by clear, unequivocal and convincing evidence, that written notice was provided and that you are removable (INA § 240(b)(5)). Notice sent to the most recent address you gave the court is enough. If you never provided an address, no notice is required.

If you were orally warned, in a language you understand, of the consequences of not appearing, you also become ineligible for 10 years for cancellation of removal, voluntary departure, adjustment of status and other relief (INA § 240(b)(7)).

The order can only be rescinded through a motion to reopen (8 C.F.R. § 1003.23(b)(4)(ii)): within 180 days if you missed court because of exceptional circumstances, such as your serious illness or the serious illness or death of an immediate relative; or at any time if you did not receive notice, or were in federal or state custody through no fault of your own. Filing the motion stays removal while the judge decides, and only one such motion is allowed. If you missed your hearing, see what to do about an in absentia removal order.

Changing your address: Form EOIR-33

Within 5 days of any move, you must give the court handling your case written notice of your new address on Form EOIR-33/IC (8 C.F.R. § 1003.15(d)). Updating your address with USCIS or the post office does not update it with the court. If you report to ICE, update your address with ICE as well.

After the decision

• If relief is granted, you receive the corresponding status. The government may appeal.
• If relief is denied and removal ordered, you have 30 days to appeal to the BIA. The appeal stays the order. A negative BIA decision can go to a federal court of appeals.
• If you accept voluntary departure, you must leave within the period set (up to 60 or 120 days) at your own expense; if you do not, it converts automatically into a removal order with a civil penalty.

How much counsel matters

A study by Ingrid Eagly and Steven Shafer, published by the American Immigration Council and covering more than a million cases, found represented respondents were substantially more likely to obtain relief, with the largest gap among detained people. Representation guarantees nothing, but facing a government attorney, it is the variable that matters most and that you can control.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check my immigration court date?

Enter your A-Number on EOIR's ACIS portal (acis.eoir.justice.gov) or call the free EOIR hotline at 1-800-898-7180, available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish. If no case is found, your case may not be filed with the court yet.

What do I need to look up my court date?

Only your A-Number, the alien registration number that starts with the letter A. It appears on your Notice to Appear and on DHS and EOIR mail. On the phone, enter the 9 digits without the A; for an 8-digit number, add a 0 first.

What happens if I miss my immigration court date?

The judge can order you removed in absentia if the government shows written notice was sent to the last address you gave the court. If you were warned of the consequences, you also become ineligible for 10 years for relief such as cancellation of removal, voluntary departure and adjustment of status.

How do I update my address with immigration court?

File Form EOIR-33/IC with the court handling your case within 5 days of moving. Otherwise, hearing notices go to your old address, and a missed hearing can end in an in absentia order.

How long does an immigration court case take?

It varies enormously by court. Detained cases are often heard within weeks or a few months; non-detained cases can run from one to several years between the first hearing and a final decision.

What happens if the judge orders me removed?

You have 30 days to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals. While the appeal is pending, the order is not executed.