You can check your immigration court case status for free through the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), either online with your A-Number and nationality or by phone at 1-800-898-7180. The result shows basic information about your case, including whether a hearing is scheduled, but it is a convenience tool and not the official record. Below, we walk through each way to check, what the results mean, and what to do when the system does not match what you expect.
The short version
Use EOIR’s Automated Case Information system online or call 1-800-898-7180 with your nine-digit A-Number. Treat the result as a quick look, not as proof. The notices the court mails you are the official source, and if you move, you must tell the court within five working days.
Key Takeaways
- You need your A-Number (and your nationality, for the online tool) to look up a case in immigration court or before the Board of Immigration Appeals.
- The online system shows basic information only, may not show every case, and will not show a new hearing date until the court has actually set one.
- Your hearing notice and other court documents are the official record. If anything conflicts with what the online system says, the paper wins.
What Is the EOIR Automated Case Information System?
EOIR is the part of the Department of Justice that runs the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals. It offers an automated way to check case status online and by phone. According to EOIR, the online system provides basic information about the status of certain cases before an immigration court or the Board. It is available in English and Spanish.
Two limits matter right away. First, the system covers only certain cases and does not display every detail, so a blank or limited result does not always mean there is no case. Second, if an A-Number has more than one case attached to it, the system shows only the most recent one. If you have had more than one proceeding over the years, what you see may not be the case you are asking about.
What Do You Need Before You Look Up Your Case?
Have these ready:
- Your A-Number. This is the nine-digit number that follows the letter A on notices from DHS, USCIS, ICE, and the immigration court. It is often printed on a Notice to Appear, a work permit, or a green card. If you are not sure where to find it, our guide on getting your immigration file explains where the number shows up in the documents you may already have.
- Your nationality. The online tool asks you to choose it from a drop-down list, and it must match what is on your case.
If you were never given an A-Number, or the number on your papers does not return a result, do not guess at different digits. Call the court or the phone line below, or talk to an attorney, so you do not end up looking at someone else’s information or drawing the wrong conclusion.
How Do You Check Your Immigration Court Case Status Online?
- Go to EOIR’s check case status page and open the online Automated Case Information system.
- Choose English or Spanish.
- Enter your A-Number and select your nationality.
- Submit, then read the result carefully, including any hearing date, court location, or note about a decision.
Take a screenshot or write down what you see, along with the date you checked. If a hearing date, court address, or decision is listed, compare it to the paper notices you received. They should match. If they do not, assume the paper notice controls until the court tells you otherwise.
Can You Check Your Case by Phone?
Yes. EOIR lists two numbers for its automated phone line: 1-800-898-7180 and 304-625-2050. The TDD line is 800-828-1120. Keep your A-Number in front of you when you call. If you prefer to speak with a person, EOIR’s general number is 703-305-0289, and each immigration court also has its own number. The Orlando Immigration Court, for example, is at 500 N. Orange Ave., Suite 1100, Orlando, FL 32801, and its listed phone number is 407-244-8900. The EOIR court listing shows the Florida courts in Miami, Miami Krome (detained), and Orlando.
Court hours and closures can change. EOIR posts closures on its operational status page, so check it before you travel to a hearing or a filing window.
What Do the Results Mean?
The exact wording on the screen can vary, so read it literally and do not fill in the gaps. In general, results fall into a few groups.
A hearing is scheduled
You will usually see a date, time, and court. Write it down and compare it to your notice. If your first hearing is a master calendar hearing, our post on master calendar vs. individual hearings explains what happens at each stage so you know what to expect when you walk in.
No hearing date is shown
EOIR states that the online system will not reflect a new hearing date until the immigration court has set one. That means a missing date can simply mean the court has not scheduled the next step yet. It can also mean the case was reset, transferred, or closed. Do not assume which one it is. Ask the court, or an attorney who can look at your full file.
A decision or a closed case is shown
A line that suggests a decision, a removal order, or a closure should be treated seriously, but not as the final word. Some outcomes can be challenged by an appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals, a motion, or other relief, and each has its own strict deadlines. If you see something like this, speak with an attorney quickly and bring every paper you have. Our overview of forms of relief in removal proceedings explains the kinds of options that may exist, and whether any apply depends on your facts.
No case found
This does not always mean you are not in proceedings. A Notice to Appear that has been issued but not yet filed with the court may not show up. A new case can also take time to appear in the system. Recheck later, and call the court if you have a hearing notice but the system shows nothing.
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Why Should You Not Rely on the Online Tool Alone?
EOIR is direct about this: case information is provided for convenience only, and documents issued by the court or the Board are the only official determinations. The agency also says that hearing notices and other court documents are the official source of information on case status. In practice, that means three habits protect you.
- Keep every notice. Store hearing notices, orders, and envelopes together, in date order.
- Do not skip a hearing because the system shows nothing. A missed hearing can lead to a removal order issued in your absence under 8 U.S.C. 1229a. If you hold a notice with a date, treat that date as real until the court or an attorney confirms otherwise.
- Re-check before each hearing. Dates can be reset. A quick look the week before, followed by a call to the court if anything seems off, costs very little.
What If You Moved or Your Contact Information Changed?
This is one of the most common reasons people miss a notice. EOIR requires respondents to tell the immigration court about address or contact changes within five working days of the change, using Form EOIR-33/IC. You can submit it to the court hearing your case in person or by mail, or complete it online through Respondent Access. Each person with a pending case needs their own form. The steps are on EOIR’s page on updating respondent information.
Filing with the court does not replace any separate address obligations you may have with other agencies, so do not assume one update covers everything. If you are unsure which updates apply to you, ask before you move.
What If Your Loved One Is Detained?
The same A-Number lookup may help you see whether a case is pending, but detained cases move differently, and bond information often has to come from the court itself. EOIR’s online system directs people to contact the local court for bond hearing information. If a family member is in custody, our posts on supporting a loved one in ICE detention, what an immigration judge weighs at a bond hearing, and how bond amounts work in Florida are good places to start. Spanish speakers can also read Mi familiar fue detenido por ICE: qué hacer primero.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is checking my immigration court case status free?
Yes. EOIR provides the online system and the automated phone line at no charge. Be careful with websites that ask for payment to look up your case. The official tools are on justice.gov and acis.eoir.justice.gov.
Is the EOIR case status the same as my USCIS case status?
No. They are different agencies with different systems. EOIR handles cases in immigration court and before the Board of Immigration Appeals. USCIS handles applications and petitions, which you track with a receipt number. A person can have both kinds of matters at the same time.
Why does the system show no hearing date?
EOIR says the online system will not show a new hearing date until the court has set one. A missing date may mean the court has not scheduled the next step, but it can also reflect a reset, a transfer, or a change in the case. Call the court or speak with an attorney before drawing a conclusion.
Can an attorney see more than I can?
Often, yes. An attorney can review the notices you hold, the filings in your case, and the court’s records through the channels available to representatives, which gives a fuller picture than the public lookup. Whether we can take on your matter is something we decide after reviewing the facts.
How We Can Help
If the case status you found does not match your paperwork, or you are not sure what the next hearing means for you, we can help you sort it out. We review your notices, explain where your case stands, and tell you what options may exist. Start with a free pre-evaluation and we will tell you whether we can help. If it is a fit, we will invite you to a paid consultation, with a full case review and a written flat-fee quote. You can also call us at (407) 917-2087. Our founding attorney Denisse Ilabaca is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar, a distinction held by fewer than two percent of Florida attorneys.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Ilabaca Law, PLLC. Immigration outcomes depend on individual facts, and laws and procedures change. Please speak with a qualified attorney about your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.