Andy Gene Strickland, a St Petersburg, FL., immigration lawyer suggests that if you have a case in immigration court, you should be aware of a few important issues:

Hearing Dates: Andy Gene Strickland affirms that hearing dates have been changing frequently, particularly throughout the “pandemic”. You should receive a hearing notice by mail, but the immigration courts have been delayed in sending out timely notices, so it is important to check in at least once a week to keep up to date with future hearings; you can do this by:

Mr. Strickland suggests calling the EOIR automated case information line at 1-800-898-7180, information is available in Spanish and English;

Visiting EOIR’s Automated Case Information online portal
Have your A# number available. Both systems provide information regarding next hearing date, time, and location.

Address Changes: Andy Gene Strickland suggests you keep your address up to date with the immigration court where your case is located.

Complete and file Form EOIR-33IC, if your case is before the immigration court, or Form EOIR-33BIA, if your case is currently before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Both forms can be downloaded and printed for free at: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-downloadable-eoir-form.

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) permits an immigration judge to order a person removed from the United States for not appearing for a scheduled hearing where they were provided with proper written notice. It is extremely important that you follow the above procedures and that you appear in court, when necessary, and keep your address updated with the court.

According to Mr. Strickland, all immigration courts have distinct operating procedures. Most immigration courts are currently open and many are resuming non-detained hearings on July 6, 2021. In order to find out the operating procedures for your local immigration court, visit the EOIR Operational Status page at: https://www.justice.gov/eoir-operational-status/ operational-status-map

If you have questions regarding your case, we encourage you to contact Andy Gene Strickland at 727-323-8188