Court
Immigration court and the U.S. judicial system
- They are not adding you to court. Stuck in USCIS. What to do?All possible steps on what to do if you are not in the court system: First, so you do not waste time, do not lose your right to…video
- How can I find out whether I have a case in immigration court?Check your immigration documents to see whether they list an A-number. An A-number is a 9-digit number assigned to you by…
- How can I move my court case to another state or city?You must file a Motion to Change Venue with the immigration court where your case is currently pending. A motion is a written…
- Stages of the immigration court processIf you have a case in immigration court, you may apply for asylum by filing Form I-589 with the immigration court, and you must…
- How long does the court process take?From several months to several years. The length of an immigration court case can vary significantly. If you are applying for…
- How can I find out my court date?To find out when and where your next hearing will take place and what type of hearing it is, you can check the immigration court…
- What should I do if there is no court date?If you are in the court system but no date for your next hearing is listed, most often you simply need to wait. This usually…
- What should I do if I am not in the court system?If you entered the United States on a visa, you generally should not be in the immigration court system. In that case, you must…
- How to contact my Immigration Court?You can find contact information for immigration courts here. If you are not sure which immigration court has your case, you can…
- How do I enter the courthouse?You should plan to arrive at your hearing early, approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled time. Before entering the…
- What happens at the first court hearing? (Master Hearing)A Master Hearing is a preliminary hearing. It is often described as an introductory hearing or a first meeting with the judge…
- What happens at the final hearing? (Individual Hearing)An Individual Hearing, also known as a merits hearing, is the hearing where you present your asylum case to an immigration judge…
- What is the “asylum clock”?The asylum clock (EAD Clock or Asylum Clock) is a tool used by USCIS and the immigration court to count the number of days that…
- How can I find out how many days are on my “asylum clock”?If you filed an asylum application in immigration court, you can call the immigration court hotline to check how many days are on…
- What happens if the judge grants asylum?If an immigration judge grants you asylum, congratulations. You have successfully completed one of the most difficult stages of…
- What can I do if I lost my case? How do I file an appeal?It is important to know that your case does not necessarily end here. If an immigration judge denied your asylum case, you still…
- If the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) denies my appeal, what can I do?If the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) denies your appeal, the decision may be challenged in federal court. In some cases, you…
- I missed my court hearing. What can I do?If you missed a hearing in immigration court, you most likely received a removal order. However, do not give up - there may be…
- What does it mean to close a case in immigration court?Closing a case in immigration court means that you no longer have an open case in court and that you are not currently facing…
- What happens if my court case is closed (Dismissal)?If you filed an asylum application in immigration court and your case was dismissed, your asylum case is also considered closed…
- Filing Form I-589 after your court case has been closedAs of October 16, 2023, official rules were introduced regarding actions after a court case is closed under Prosecutorial…
- Case ConsolidationFile a Motion to Consolidate. Request it orally during a court hearing. There are two main categories of consolidation: based on…video
- Court ONLINE. How to join without an attorneyIf you see on the court system website that your next hearing will be online (INTERNET-BASED), that means you need to join it…
