Check immigration notices and case information problems
Choose what happened to see the records to gather, the official steps to check and where to find help.
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This guide preserves the page’s explanations and conditional next steps. It does not carry current filters, individual case information or a provider directory export.
I did not receive a notice
A court may have scheduled a hearing even if you did not see the mailing. A missing letter alone does not tell you whether a hearing is scheduled.
An unnoticed hearing can lead to a decision in your absence. A date in the official record needs prompt attention.
What to verify
Check EOIR’s case-information system or hotline, then ask the court listed in your record about any discrepancy. Automated information is limited; court notices remain the official source.
Records, process and official sources
Records to locate
- The NTA and all earlier hearing notices
- Envelopes, mailing dates and returned mail
- Address-change forms, submission receipts and prior addresses
How the process generally works
Court hearing notices are sent to the address on record. If a hearing already passed, locate the judge’s order and read the missed-hearing section below; notice issues have specific reopening rules.
Terms you may see
Notice of hearing: scheduling information. Service: formal delivery. In absentia: in your absence.
More official information
I missed a hearing
The judge may have held the hearing without you and may have issued an in absentia removal order. Verify what actually happened.
This can be urgent. The type and date of the order affect available procedures and time limits.
What to verify
Check the court record and request the order from the court or your representative; the online summary may not explain it fully.
EOIR describes a motion to reopen to rescind an in absentia removal order; it is different from a direct BIA appeal. For removal proceedings, the manual describes a 180-day limit after the in absentia order for exceptional-circumstances claims and different rules for lack of proper notice or qualifying custody situations. Which rule applies requires review of the actual record. Seek qualified help promptly.
Records, process and official sources
Records to locate
- The order and hearing notice
- NTA, envelopes and address-change receipts
- A dated account and supporting records explaining what happened
Terms you may see
Reopen: ask the court to consider the matter again. Rescind: set aside an order. A motion is a request, not an automatic grant.
More official information
I moved
A new residence can require updates to agency records. Updating your address and changing which court hears a case are separate procedures.
Notices may keep going to the old address. EOIR requires contact changes within five working days; a separate form is needed for each affected person with a pending case.
What to verify
Confirm which court or the BIA currently has the matter. Read the EOIR-33/IC or EOIR-33/BIA form instructions for that forum, including service requirements.
Records, process and official sources
Records to locate
- Current court or BIA notice
- Old and new contact information and move date
- Filed address forms, proof of service and confirmation receipts
How the process generally works
EOIR provides online, mail and in-person address-update options. Follow the form for the correct forum. Updating EOIR does not by itself update every other agency; check any separate USCIS or DHS obligations. A ZIP lookup does not transfer a case, and an address change does not excuse a scheduled hearing.
Terms you may see
EOIR-33/IC: immigration-court contact update. EOIR-33/BIA: Board contact update. Change of venue: request to move proceedings to another court.
More official information
My lawyer is not responding
A communication problem does not establish that the lawyer has withdrawn from the court record or that deadlines have changed.
You may need reliable copies of filings, notices and orders while you clarify who is handling the case.
What to verify
Try the representative’s documented contact channels and verify hearing information through EOIR. Ask for a copy of the case file and an explanation of any upcoming dates.
Records, process and official sources
Records to locate
- Engagement agreement and payment receipts
- EOIR-28 or EOIR-27 appearance forms
- Copies of filings, orders and your attempts to contact the representative
How the process generally works
EOIR has procedures for withdrawal and substitution; a private decision to stop working together is not the same as court approval of a change. The official discipline program explains complaint procedures. A complaint is separate from addressing an upcoming hearing or filing deadline.
Terms you may see
Practitioner of record: representative formally appearing in the matter. Withdrawal: ending an appearance with the required permission. Substitution: replacing a representative.
More official information
I received an NTA
A Notice to Appear, Form I-862, is a DHS charging document stating factual allegations and legal charges for removal proceedings. It is not itself the judge’s final decision.
It contains information about the government’s allegations, hearing arrangements and contact responsibilities.
What to verify
Read the hearing section and check EOIR’s official information. DHS service and filing with the court can occur at different times; an empty online result is not proof that the paper can be ignored.
Records, process and official sources
Records to locate
- Every page of the NTA, including the back
- The envelope and date received
- Any later hearing notice or address correction
How the process generally works
Removal proceedings begin when DHS files the served NTA with the immigration court. A master calendar hearing generally addresses scheduling and preliminary issues. Review unfamiliar allegations and charges with qualified help before deciding how to respond.
Terms you may see
Allegation: a factual assertion. Charge: claimed legal basis for removal. Respondent: the person in proceedings.
More official information
My case status looks wrong
An automated summary can be incomplete or differ from a document. A displayed message does not provide the full procedural history.
Treat a conflict involving a hearing, order or filing deadline as something to verify promptly.
What to verify
Compare the issuer, date and case reference on the document with the official system for that agency. EOIR information covers immigration-court matters; it is not a USCIS application tracker.
Records, process and official sources
Records to locate
- The exact status message and when you saw it
- The newest notice or order and previous versions
- Filing receipts, delivery confirmations and any court response
How the process generally works
Contact the responsible court or use Respondent Access where available to clarify the record. Keep a dated note of the question and response. The official portal FAQ explains why some information is unavailable in the public automated system.
Terms you may see
Docket: the court’s case record. Pending: still awaiting action under a particular system’s definition. Administrative closure: a procedural status, not necessarily a final grant or denial.
More official information
My asylum clock looks wrong
The asylum EAD clock tracks a waiting period used for employment-authorization rules. It is different from calendar time since an application was submitted.
A pause, restart or recording error can affect the clock shown in the system. A clock count alone does not decide eligibility for employment authorization.
What to verify
Compare EOIR clock information with filing and hearing records. EOIR’s clock-correction FAQ describes different routes for current court matters, historical errors and cases on appeal.
Records, process and official sources
Records to locate
- Asylum filing acknowledgement and filing date
- Hearing dates and adjournment notices
- Clock information, prior correction requests and replies
How the process generally works
The official FAQ explains how to request a correction and what information supports a request. Locate the relevant dates and recorded reasons for delay before using that process; legal help can review how a delay should be treated.
Terms you may see
EAD: employment authorization document. Adjournment: postponement of a hearing. Clock correction: review of the recorded clock, not a decision on asylum.
More official information
I do not understand this letter
Government letters can be notices, requests, receipts or decisions. The title and issuing agency help identify what the letter is doing.
A hearing date, response date or appeal instruction may need attention even if other parts are unclear.
What to verify
Use the official contact details for the agency shown on the letter and check the corresponding case system. Compare the form number, issue date and any later letter.
Records, process and official sources
Records to locate
- All pages and attachments
- The envelope and delivery date
- Related earlier notices, receipts and submissions
How the process generally works
Start with the Document Explainer, then read any instructions on the actual document. Ask qualified help to explain a decision or response requirement. Keep the original and a copy; this site does not need an upload or your identifying details.
Terms you may see
Notice: information about an event or requirement. Receipt: acknowledgement. Order: a formal decision or direction. A receipt is not necessarily approval.
More official information
I do not know which court has my case
The court associated with your postal ZIP can differ from the court currently handling an existing matter.
The correct forum matters for hearings, contact updates and submissions.
What to verify
Start with the latest official notice and EOIR case information. The operational directory lists court contacts and status. ZIP routing is useful for orientation; the official record controls the individual assignment.
Records, process and official sources
Records to locate
- The newest NTA, hearing notice or judge’s order
- Any transfer or change-of-venue order
- Prior court correspondence and address updates
How the process generally works
If the notice and online information disagree, ask the listed court to clarify. Court staff can provide procedural information but do not choose a legal strategy. A BIA appeal is a different forum from an immigration-court hearing.
Terms you may see
Venue: where proceedings are heard. Administrative control court: the court maintaining the record for an assigned location. BIA: Board of Immigration Appeals.
More official information
Official procedural sources checked 2026-10-16. Individual notices and current official instructions matter for your case. This does not verify an individual case or a provider’s current availability.