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If you have a case in immigration court, you need to know your immigration court date. The good news: the government has a free tool to check your next hearing online. You don’t have to call anyone or pay anything.
If you have an active case in Texas and want help understanding your hearing, our immigration lawyers in Austin can review it with you.
How to check your immigration court date: the official portal
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which runs the immigration courts, has an online tool called the Automated Case Information Portal (ACIS). It is free, you don’t need an account, and it works 24 hours a day from your phone or computer. It is available in English and Spanish.
- Go to acis.eoir.justice.gov from your phone or computer.
- Enter your A-Number (no dashes or spaces).
- Select your country of nationality.
- Submit the search.
- Review your next hearing date and time, the court assigned to your case and the current status of your case.
Double-check your number before you search. One wrong digit can bring up no results or someone else’s case.
You can also call EOIR’s automated case status line at 1-800-898-7180 (TDD: 1-800-828-1120), available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish.
What you need before you check: your A-Number
Your A-Number (Alien Registration Number) is the number the government uses to identify you. It usually has 9 digits and starts with an “A.” You can find it on your Notice to Appear (Form I-862), on letters from the immigration court and on other immigration documents, like a work permit. If your A-Number only has 8 digits, add a zero at the beginning.
Important: your A-Number is not the same as a USCIS receipt number. Make sure you use the right one, or the system won’t find your case. If you are not sure whether you have a case in court, read how to know if you have a deportation order.
Which court is your hearing in?
Not every city has its own immigration court. Your case may be assigned to a court in another city. For example, many cases for people living in the Austin area are heard in San Antonio.
If you move, your case does not transfer by itself. Your attorney has to file a formal motion to change venue with the judge on your case, and you keep the same court until the judge approves it. You also have to tell the court your new address within 5 days of moving, using Form EOIR-33, or you could miss important notices.
Never skip a hearing because the court is far away. If you don’t show up, the judge can order you removed in your absence (an “in absentia” removal order).
What information does the immigration court system show?
ACIS shows your next hearing date and time, the name and address of your court, and the type of hearing. It can also show the judge’s decision if your case already ended, and whether there is an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals.
There are two main types of hearings. A master calendar hearing is short and procedural: the judge confirms your information and you say what relief you are asking for. An individual hearing (also called a merits hearing) is where you present your evidence and testimony and the judge decides your case. If you are asking for a green card in court, see our adjustment of status services.
What to do if your date changed or the system shows no results
Check ACIS at least once a week. The online system often updates before a mailed notice reaches you, so don’t rely only on the last letter you received.
If no information shows up, the government may not have filed your Notice to Appear with the court yet. This is common in new cases. Check your A-Number and try again in a few days. If nothing shows up after several weeks, talk to an immigration attorney. A lawyer can also look at whether you qualify for relief, like a U visa, early in your case. Learn more about U visa processing or our deportation defense services.
If you have a hearing coming up, schedule a consultation with YSL Immigration Lawyers in Austin or Laredo, Texas.
Frequently asked questions about how to find your immigration court date
Do I need to create an account to check my court date on ACIS?
No. The portal is public and you only need your A-Number and your country of nationality. You can use it from any phone or computer, at any time.
What if the ACIS portal doesn’t show any information about my case?
It usually means your Notice to Appear has not been entered into the court system yet, which is common in recent cases. Check that your A-Number is correct and try again in a few days. If the problem lasts more than a month, talk to an immigration attorney.
How often should I check the portal so I don’t miss my court date?
At least once a week. Dates can change at any time, and the online system usually updates before any letter arrives. Checking weekly gives you time to prepare.
Can my immigration court date change without a letter?
Yes. Courts can reschedule hearings because of workload or for administrative reasons. ACIS usually shows the change before the letter reaches you, so check the portal instead of relying on the last notice you received. Keep your address updated with the court so notices reach you.
What does it mean if my hearing is in a court in another city?
Your case is assigned to that court. Moving does not transfer your case automatically; your attorney must file a motion to change venue with the judge. Skipping the hearing because of the distance can lead to an in absentia removal order.
