10 things to know before your first immigration court hearing

Your first hearing in immigration court is called a master calendar hearing. Here are 10 things to know. 

1. Is your hearing in person or online? Check by calling 1-800-898-7180 or visiting the immigration court website. If it is in person, you can request to switch to online, but this may not be approved. Learn more about virtual hearings. 

2. The hearing is usually short, but you may wait for a while. Most hearings last less than 30 minutes. However, usually many people are scheduled for their hearings at the same time, so you may wait a long time before your turn.

3. The court requires that you bring your children if their names are on your paperwork. Check your Notice to Appear or hearing notice. If your children's names are listed, you are supposed to bring them with you. But at the hearing, you can ask the judge if you need to keep bringing them to future hearings. 

4. The judge may ask you about your address. The judge will likely ask you your name, address, and date of birth. If your address is not close to the immigration court, the judge may ask you if you want to change your immigration court to one closer to you. Read about what to consider when deciding whether to try to change your immigration court.

5. The judge may ask you about your Notice to Appear. The judge may ask if you have reviewed the Notice to Appear and whether you agree or disagree with what is written on it. If you do not agree with what is written, you can tell the judge. 

6. You have the right to apply for asylum. You can learn about the requirements for asylum, and tell the judge if you plan to apply. If you say you have NO plans to apply for any immigration relief, the judge may end your case and give you a deportation order. You can follow these instructions to apply for asylum.

7. You can ask the judge questions, and write things down. You can bring a pen and paper to write things down during the hearing, like deadlines. If you do not understand something, you can ask the judge to explain. Here are some examples of questions: 

   • "I need an interpreter in my language" — you have the right to one

   • "Can I attend future hearings online?"

   • “Do I need to bring my children to a future hearing?”

   • "Can I have more time to find a lawyer?" (Note: this may delay your work permit if you have already applied for asylum)

8. If the government tries to end your case, you can try to convince the judge to keep it open. Unfortunately, the government is trying to end some cases in immigration court before the asylum seeker receives a full hearing. Learn about possible next steps. If the judge decides to end your case, you have the right to appeal.

9. Detention at master calendar hearings has become less common, but this could change in the future. To learn about what is happening at your specific immigration court, you can try to find an organization for immigrants in your area. Learn how to prepare for the possibility of detention. 

10. If you do not go to your hearing, the judge will likely give you a deportation order. Sometimes hearings are rescheduled without warning. Keep checking your case status by calling 1-800-898-7180 or visiting the immigration court website.

Find more detailed information about master calendar hearings.