You Received a Notice to Appear. Here Is What Happens Next

Immigration rules, fees, and procedures are changing frequently; confirm current requirements before acting.

A Notice to Appear is the charging document that begins removal proceedings against you in immigration court. It is serious and time-sensitive, but it is not a verdict. Receiving one does not mean your case is hopeless. What it means is that the timeline now matters enormously, and the single most important thing you can do is get experienced counsel before your first hearing.

Never miss a hearing. A missed hearing can lead to a removal order entered in your absence, and can carry additional penalties that make everything that follows harder.

Depending on your history and family ties, potential defenses and forms of relief include asylum and related protection, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, waivers, voluntary departure, and challenges to the government’s charges themselves. And if a removal order has already been entered, options may still exist, such as a motion to reopen or reconsider, or an appeal, though the deadlines are strict and unforgiving. I have handled appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals and the federal circuit courts. The sooner you reach out, the more options you are likely to have.

If you or a family member has received a Notice to Appear, get counsel before the first hearing. Call or text 512.761.8479.