If you have had contact with immigration, you will almost certainly have an alien registration number, commonly known as your “A number”. This is an A followed by 8 or 9 digits (for example: A 200 345 67, A 200 345 67). You can use this A number to easily find immigration court information relating to your case in English and Spanish.
Immigration court is formally known as the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR has established a hotline that you can call to obtain the following information:
- Next hearing date, time, and location;
- Case processing information;
- Immigration judge decision outcome and date;
- Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) case appeal information, including appeal due date, brief due date, decision outcome and date; and
- Filing information.
Call the hotline at 1-800-898-7180, enter your A number and go through the various options to see if anything has happened in your case that you are not aware of.
Why is this important?
Many people have removal (deportation) orders without knowing it. There are different ways this can happen. Often there are “in absentia” orders, meaning the order was given in your absence because you failed to appear at an EOIR hearing. Perhaps you did not receive the notice or perhaps you had a valid reason to not attend the hearing, but if you do not show up to immigration court, the judge may order you removed in your absence. It is important to know if you have a final order, as you may be removed without any additional hearing if you do. Even if you don’t have a final order, it is always good to verify your next court date, as these can change. Please note that there are other types of orders, including expedited removal orders (at or near the border), that will not show up through the hotline.
Whether or not you find any surprise when you call the EOIR hotline, if you have any questions about your status or your immigration case, please contact us to set up a consultation with one of our immigration attorneys.