Immigration Court Procedures

How to read the document showing the charges against you for immigration proceedings.

Step one in your removal proceedings will be to attend a preliminary, scheduling hearing called a master calendar.

When and how to apply for a change of venue when noncitizen living in a different state.

At an individual "merits" hearing, the non-citizen gets the chance to present arguments before an Immigration Judge and defend their right to remain in the United States.

If the judge in Immigration Court orders the non-citizen deported, when is that a done deal?

If you are currently in removal proceedings and have a U.S. citizen spouse, parent, or child over the age of 21, you might be eligible to apply for a family-based green card and waiver of unlawful presence.

When and how to apply for a change of venue when noncitizen living in a different state.

The EOIR holds all records of current deportation, removal and/or exclusion proceedings, including judges' orders and decisions, and you will need to submit a separate FOIA request to it in order to see your court records.

It's great when the judge decides that you have won your cancellation case, but how do you actually prove to employers and others that you're now a permanent resident?

If you were a no-show at an immigration court hearing, here's what to do about the order of removal that the judge likely issued against you.