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What happens if I miss my immigration court date

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If you do not show up to your hearing

If a person does not appear at their immigration-court hearing, the judge can order removal without them there. This is called an in absentia order (8 U.S.C. 1229a(b)(5)). That is why the date, time, address, and whether the hearing is in person or by video must be confirmed — and why you must go even if you do not have a lawyer.

This page explains words on a letter. It is not legal advice. Only an attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can tell you what to do in your case.

Confirm your hearing date, time and place

• Call the EOIR automated case information line, 1-800-898-7180, any time, day or night. You will need your A-number.
• You can also check your case through the official EOIR customer service page: justice.gov/eoir.
• Confirm whether the hearing is in person or by video, and the exact address.
• Go to every hearing and every appointment, even without a lawyer.

What not to do

Do not ignore any letter — even one that looks like a scam. USCIS and ICE do not ask for payment by gift card or wire transfer, and they do not threaten arrest over the phone. If a call or letter does that, it may be a scam — but still verify it directly:

• USCIS Contact Center: 1-800-375-5283, or check a receipt number at egov.uscis.gov.
• EOIR automated case line: 1-800-898-7180.
• Learn to recognize scams at USCIS — Avoid Scams.

A notary public ("notario") is not a lawyer and cannot give immigration advice. Only an attorney or a person accredited by the Department of Justice at a recognized organization can help with your case.

If you think you already missed your court date

Contact an accredited representative or immigration attorney today. This is the most important next step. There are sometimes ways to try to reopen a case after a missed hearing, but only a representative or attorney can tell you whether that applies to you and how. This guide cannot give that advice.

Find free or low-cost, real help

• Search the DOJ roster of recognized organizations and accredited representatives, by state and city.
• Find free civil legal help in Florida at FloridaLawHelp.org.
• If a child, a medical condition, domestic violence, or being a victim of a crime is part of your situation, tell the accredited representative or attorney at your first meeting — these facts can matter, and only they can explain how.

What to do next

You do not have to guess alone. Paste the text of your own letter into the free tool. It will read your actual document and tell you, in plain English or Spanish, what it is, the date that matters, what happens if it's missed, what not to do, and where to find a real accredited representative near you. No account. Nothing stored. You can leave out your A-number. Always confirm dates with the official numbers above and check with a professional about your own case.

Immigrant Paper Decoder explains a document in plain language; it can be wrong, and it is not legal advice. It never tells you what to file or what to say to an officer. Only an attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative can advise you — find one on the Department of Justice roster or through floridalawhelp.org. A notary public is not a lawyer. Nothing you paste is stored.