Understanding Your "Notice to Appear"

This article is part of a guide to immigration court cases. Go here to see the guide and links to other articles.

If you have a case in immigration court, immigration officials will give you a legal paper called a "Notice to Appear," which is often called an "NTA." This is the official paper that starts your deportation case. 

Important: Just getting a Notice to Appear does not mean you will be deported. You have the right to explain your situation to a judge and ask to stay in the United States.

Why your Notice to Appear is important

The process can feel scary or confusing, but understanding your Notice to Appear is an important first step in protecting your rights.

The Notice to Appear includes key information about your case:

• Your A-number,  an 8-digit or 9-digit number used to track your immigration case. It usually looks like A123-456-789.
• Details about your court case, like the date, time, and location of your first hearing (if available).
• The reason the government says you should be deported.
• Facts about you that the government believes are true, such as where you were born, how you entered the United States, and your immigration status.

At your first court hearing (called a "master calendar hearing"), the judge will ask you if the information in your NTA is correct. Learn what happens at a master calendar hearing.

What to do when you receive a Notice to Appear

• Keep it safe: Put it in a secure place. Make at least one copy.
• Read it carefully: Look closely at the information. If you think any part of it is wrong, you or your lawyer can tell the judge.
• Double-check your court date and location: Sometimes this information is wrong or missing. The court may change it. If you have moved, or you were given your NTA while you were in a detention center, it might be scheduled in the wrong location. 

If you don't understand any part of your NTA or if something seems wrong, talk to a lawyer as soon as you can. 

How to double-check the details for your first hearing

Even if the NTA shows a date and location, you should always double-check. This is especially important if:

• The space is blank.
• You moved.
• You haven't received any updates about your case.

Tip: Check your hearing information regularly, especially if your case is just starting or you move to a new address.

Option 1: Call the immigration court hotline

• Call 1-800-898-7180.
• Follow the instructions in English or Spanish.
• Enter your A-number on the phone to hear your case information.
• Listen, and select the "hearing information" option and wait for the response. 
• Sometimes, the system will say that no hearing information is available. If that happens, call back once a week until a date has been set.  

Option 2: Look up your case online

• Look up your court date information on the immigration court website.
• Enter your A-number to see your case information.
• If no hearing information is available, check back each week until a hearing date is set.

Don't miss your hearing

Go to all your hearings, even if you do not have a lawyer yet. If you miss your court hearing, the judge will probably order you deported.

Make sure the court has your current address. If important information is sent to the wrong address, you could miss your court date.

• You can update your address with the court by filling out a "Change of Address Form (EOIR-33)" also called "E-33."
• There are copies of the form at the immigration court.
• You can also update your address online here.

Get legal help as soon as you can

You have the right to have a lawyer in immigration court. But the government will not give you one. 

• Start looking for a lawyer right away. 
• Even if you do not have one by your first hearing, you can ask the judge for more time to find one.

How to find immigration legal help.

A lawyer can:

• Help you understand your options.
• Fill out and submit the right forms.
• Speak for you in court.
• Improve your chances of staying in the U.S.

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