How to Move Your Immigration Hearing to a Different Court

This checklist helps you move your immigration hearing to a different court. For more information, read our fact sheet, How to Move Your Immigration Hearing to a Different Court (Change Your Venue).

1.

Fill out a motion to change venue

Read the "Sample Motion to Change Venue" section in this fact sheet: How to Move Your Immigration Hearing to a Different Court (Change Your Venue).

Review this Sample Change of Venue to see what it looks like.

Fill out the Motion to Change Venue using the blank copy of the motion.

Make 3 copies of the motion. Keep one copy of the motion.

2.

Mail Your Motion Packet

Mail one copy of the motion to your current court.

You can find the name and address for your current court by checking where your hearing is scheduled. 

  • By Phone. Call the EOIR hotline at 1-800-898-7180. Enter your A-Number or “Alien Registration Number.” (Visit immigrationhelp.org to learn how to find your A-Number.) Use the menu of options to check the date and time of your hearing. The hotline is in English and Spanish. Push 2 for help in Spanish.
     
  • Online. Visit acis.eoir.justice.gov. Enter your A-Number. Look at “Next Hearing Information” and “Court Contact Information.”

Mail one copy of the motion to the government lawyer.

At your immigration hearing, it is your job to prove you should not be deported. It is the government lawyer’s job to prove you should be deported. The government lawyer needs to know if you want to change your venue. The government lawyer works at the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA). The OPLA office address is different from the court’s address. To find the OPLA office address to mail your motion to:

  • Call the court where your hearing is scheduled. Tell them you are trying to file a change of venue. Ask for the name and address of the OPLA office assigned to your court.
3.

Check to make sure your venue changed.

Check to make sure your venue changed.

The court will mail you an order (an official piece of paper) that says whether or not your request was granted. You can also call or check online to see if you have a hearing scheduled at the immigration court you chose to move to. You will be told the date, time, and location of your hearing. If your venue changed, your new court will be listed.

  • By Phone. Call the EOIR hotline at 1-800-898-7180. Enter your A-Number or “Alien Registration Number.” (Visit immigrationhelp.org to learn how to find your A-Number.) Use the menu of options to check the date and time of your hearing. The hotline is in English and Spanish. Push 2 for help in Spanish.
     
  • Online. Visit acis.eoir.justice.gov. Enter your A-Number. Look at “Next Hearing Information” and “Court Contact Information.”