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Stage 1: Getting Started

Moving During the Immigration Process

What happens if I move while I’m waiting for my individual merits hearing?

If you have moved, it is required to notify each agency that is involved in the immigration process within five days of your move. This may mean that you must file three separate address changes. If you are moving out of state, you will also have to change your immigration court by filing a change of venue.

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Please note that, if it appears that you currently reside at an address that is far away from your current immigration court at the time of your master calendar hearing, the immigration judge may transfer your case to a closer court during your court appearance.

How do I change my address?

You can follow the below QR codes to change your address with immigration court, ICE, and USCIS, respectively. Remember that these changes must be done within five days of your move.

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For a more detailed explanation of how to change your address, you can watch this video by Pro Se Plus Partner NYLAG on how to change your address with your immigration court, ICE, and USCIS.

How do I file a change of venue?

If you move outside of the state in which your court is located or even in the same state, but far away from the court, you will need to submit a request (known in legal terms as a “motion”) for a “change of venue”. This document is the template that PSPP partners use to submit changes of venue for community members. 

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If you do not have an attorney to file this for you, you will need to fill it out and send it to the judge at your current court (here is a sample). You will also need to submit an accompanying change of address (submitted within five days of moving). Your current immigration judge will then decide whether or not to grant your request. 

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EOIR, the government agency that oversees the immigration courts, provides these self-help resources for people who need to submit a request for a change of venue. You can also refer to this guide created by PSPP partner UnLocal for more details.

How can I tell if my change of venue was successful?

The first place to check to see if your change of venue request was successful is to check your information using your A number in the EOIR automated case information system either by phone at 1-800-898-7180 or online. If the court location has changed to a court closer to you, then it was successful. You may also receive a letter in the mail confirming that your change of venue was “granted.” 

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However, if you notice that the court information has not changed when you check the EOIR automated case information system, you need to call the immigration court where you requested the change of venue from and ask court staff to check on the status of the motion to change venue. You can find the phone number for the court in the EOIR automated case information system when you check for your next hearing date. 

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Make sure to have the A number available for yourself and any other family member in your case when you call. Please note that if you cannot confirm that the change of venue was successful before your next hearing, you still must appear at that hearing or you can be ordered deported in your absence.

Stage 1 Questions

​Overview

  • What is the immigration process?

  • What are the different agencies that are involved in the immigration process?

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Your Documents

  • I've received several documents at the border, but I do not understand what they are.

  • I've just arrived and I'm overwhelmed by all of this information. What should I focus on first?

  • I do not show up in the immigration court (EOIR) system but have been issued an NTA. What does this mean?

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Your Immigration Court Hearing

  • How can I find when my next hearing date is?

  • What's going to happen at my first immigration court hearing?

  • I went to my master calendar hearing at the right date and time, but they told me I wouldn’t see my immigration judge. What does this mean?

  • What does it mean if my hearing is listed as being “internet-based”? 

​Checking in with ICE

  • What is ICE and why do I also have to check in with them?

  • How do I schedule and check in for my appointments with ICE?

  • Why did ICE take away my passport?

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Moving During the Immigration Process

  • What happens if I move while I'm waiting for my individual merits hearing?

  • How do I change my address?

  • How do I file a change of venue?

  • How can I tell if my change of venue was successful?

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