Status as of September 12, 2026. Immigration courts are operating with a large case backlog, and hearing dates can change on short notice. Under EOIR's rules the automated system is provided for convenience; the legally controlling document is the hearing notice the court mails. Current closures and rescheduling are posted on EOIR's court operational-status page.
There are two ways to check the date and location of an immigration court hearing, both run by EOIR (the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the agency that operates the immigration courts): the online portal ACIS (the Automated Case Information System) at acis.eoir.justice.gov, and the toll-free automated line at 1-800-898-7180 (TDD 800-828-1120). Both operate around the clock in English and Spanish, and both ask for one thing: an A-Number.
The A-Number is all you need
The A-Number is the nine-digit alien registration number. It appears on the Notice to Appear (NTA) — the charging document that starts removal proceedings — and on correspondence from DHS and EOIR. If the number has only eight digits, a zero is entered in front of it.
If the NTA is not at hand, the same number appears on an Employment Authorization Document, on USCIS approval and receipt notices on Form I-797, and on immigration bond paperwork. An attorney or accredited representative who has filed Form G-28 can also retrieve it. Without the A-Number neither channel will return anything — there is no lookup by name.
What the system reports
By A-Number the system gives the date, time and location of the next hearing, along with information about the court and any decision entered. It also reports appeal information from the Board of Immigration Appeals: the filing deadline, the brief deadline, the outcome and the decision date. That last piece matters after a denial, when the 30-day appeal window is the thing that cannot be missed.
What it does not show
ACIS displays basic information for the primary case only; where more than one case exists under an A-Number, it shows the most recent. Bond hearing information is not in the system at all — that comes from the local immigration court. A new hearing date appears only once the court has actually set it, so a blank next-hearing field can simply mean scheduling has not happened yet.
And the central limit: the automated data is a convenience. The official source is the mailed hearing notice. If the system is silent, incomplete, or disagrees with a notice on paper, the notice controls and the discrepancy is resolved with the court handling the case.
If the system cannot find the case
A case that returns nothing is not necessarily a problem with the number. Removal proceedings begin in court only when DHS files the NTA with the immigration court, which can happen weeks or months after the document is served on the person. Until that filing, there is no case in EOIR's system to find — the A-Number is valid, the record simply does not exist yet.
Other reasons a search comes back empty: the number was entered with a digit missing or without the leading zero, the case is before USCIS rather than the immigration court, or the system is briefly down for maintenance. If the number is confirmed correct and the NTA was served some time ago, the immigration court listed on the NTA can confirm whether the case has been filed.
Why the date is checked in advance
Missing a scheduled hearing without good cause generally results in a removal order issued in the person's absence — an in absentia order. Because dates can be moved and because the mailed notice is what controls, verifying the date ahead of time, and keeping the court informed of any address change, is what prevents that outcome.
How removal proceedings work overall is covered in the Immigration Court and Removal section. If the person is in custody, they can be located through the ICE detainee locator.
Frequently asked questions
Can a hearing date be found without an A-Number?
No. Both the ACIS portal and the automated line search by A-Number only; there is no search by name. The number appears on the Notice to Appear, on DHS and EOIR correspondence, on an Employment Authorization Document and on Form I-797 notices.
The system says no case was found. What does that mean?
Most often it means DHS has not yet filed the Notice to Appear with the immigration court, so no case exists in EOIR's system yet. It can also mean a digit was mistyped, the leading zero was omitted from an eight-digit number, or the matter is before USCIS rather than the court.
Which controls, the system or the paper notice?
The mailed hearing notice. Under EOIR's rules the automated information is provided for convenience only. Where the two differ, the notice governs, and the discrepancy is clarified with the immigration court handling the case.
Official sources
| Resource | What it covers |
|---|---|
| ACIS, acis.eoir.justice.gov | Checking the next hearing, court information and BIA appeal data by A-Number |
| Automated line 1-800-898-7180 (TDD 800-828-1120) | The same information by phone, around the clock, in English and Spanish |
| EOIR at justice.gov/eoir | Court operational status, closures, court locations and contact details |
This material is informational, current as of September 12, 2026, and is not legal advice. Hearing dates change, and what a particular notice or order means depends on the posture of the case. Anyone in removal proceedings should confirm dates against the mailed notice and consult a licensed immigration attorney.