--- title: "Immigration Court Hearing in Annandale or Sterling, VA" description: "Annandale and Sterling immigration court addresses and hours, master calendar vs. individual hearings, and how to check your immigration court case status." url: "https://firstpointlaw.com/solutions/immigration-court-hearing" --- Immigration guide # I Have an Immigration Court Hearing Coming Up A hearing notice from the immigration court can raise many questions. This page explains what to expect at the Annandale and Sterling immigration courts and how the main types of hearings work. It also shows how to check your hearing date and keep your case on track. [Call (703) 385-6868](tel:+17033856868) Request a Consultation - Clients in Virginia, across the U.S. and abroad ## Two rules with real consequences If you miss a hearing, the judge can order you removed in your absence. If you move, the court must receive your new address on Form EOIR-33 within five working days. Notices go to the last address the court has. [Talk with our team: (703) 385-6868](tel:+17033856868) [Practice area **Immigration Law**](/legal-services/immigration-law/) ## At a glance - Annandale: 7619 Little River Turnpike, Suite 400. Sterling: 21400 Ridgetop Circle, Suite 200. Both open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Check your hearing date at acis.eoir.justice.gov or by calling 1-800-898-7180 with your A-Number. - The first hearing is a short master calendar hearing. Most evidence and testimony come at a later individual hearing. - The court provides interpreters at no cost to you. Requests should be made at least 30 days before the hearing. ## Annandale Immigration Court The Annandale Immigration Court is run by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the Justice Department agency that operates the immigration courts. EOIR is separate from ICE and USCIS. - Address: 7619 Little River Turnpike, Suite 400, Annandale, VA 22003 - Phone: 703-343-4000 - Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except federal holidays. The filing window is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Parking and transit: On-site surface parking and a garage, which EOIR says are currently free. EOIR lists Fairfax Connector routes 402 and 16A, and the nearest Metro station is Dunn Loring. Elevator access to the court floors runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Unexpected closures, such as for weather, are posted on EOIR's operational status page. ## Sterling Immigration Court The Sterling Immigration Court is also an EOIR court. Like Annandale, it holds hearings in removal cases. - Address: 21400 Ridgetop Circle, Suite 200, Sterling, VA 20166 - Phone: 703-674-4600 - Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except federal holidays. The filing window is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Parking and transit: Street parking and paid parking nearby. EOIR lists Loudoun County Transit route 70. Your hearing notice tells you which court has your case. If you move, your case does not move with you automatically. A change of court requires a request to the judge, and you must keep attending hearings until the judge decides it. ## What to Expect on Your Hearing Day ### Security and Timing At both courts, every visitor goes through a metal detector, and bags are X-rayed. You may be asked to remove your shoes. Arrive early to allow time for screening and to find your courtroom. Food and drink are not allowed in courtrooms unless the judge permits them. Phones must be off during hearings, and photos and recordings are prohibited throughout the court space. Hearings are generally open to the public, so a relative can usually come and sit in. Some hearings are closed, for example to protect an abuse survivor or when an asylum applicant asks. ### What to Bring - Your hearing notice and your Notice to Appear - Photo identification - Copies of everything you or your lawyer filed - Any original documents the judge asked you to bring - A pen and paper to write down your next date ### What to Wear EOIR asks everyone in court to respect its decorum and dress appropriately. Clean, neat clothing, like what you would wear to an important appointment, is common. You do not need a suit. ### Interpreters The court provides interpreters at government expense for people who need one. A request should be made at least 30 days before the hearing where it is needed, and judges also ask at the hearing. You do not need to hire your own court interpreter. ### Children Children who are respondents (people in removal proceedings) must attend unless the judge excuses them. Otherwise, EOIR asks that children not be brought to court. Children may not wait in the waiting area without supervision. ### In Person or by Video EOIR says people without a lawyer of record will always have an in-person hearing by default. Some hearings take place online through Webex. The Webex links on EOIR's website are only for people the court has approved to appear remotely. If you are unsure how your hearing will take place, call the court. If your relative is detained, see My Family Member Was Detained by ICE. ## Master Calendar and Individual Hearings ### Master Calendar Hearing Your first appearance before an immigration judge is a master calendar hearing. These hearings are usually brief, and many cases are often scheduled for the same session. The judge explains your rights and may take "pleadings," meaning your answers to the government's allegations and charges. The judge also sets deadlines and the next date. Most evidence and testimony come later. ### Individual Hearing An individual hearing, also called a merits hearing, is the evidentiary hearing on the disputed issues. Examples include an application for asylum or cancellation of removal. You may testify, bring witnesses and present evidence, such as medical records, police reports and sworn statements. A government attorney represents the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and may ask questions. The judge may rule at the end of the hearing or later in writing. Evidence must be filed by deadlines set in EOIR's rules and by the judge. Late documents may not be accepted. ## The Notice to Appear, Explained A Notice to Appear (Form I-862) is the document that starts a deportation case, formally called removal proceedings. DHS issues it and files it with the immigration court. It usually lists: - Your name and your A-Number, a nine-digit number shown in the upper right corner - The government's factual allegations, such as your country of citizenship and how you entered - The charges, meaning the sections of immigration law DHS says make you removable - The court's address and the date and time of the first hearing, if already set The court then sends hearing notices with each date, time and place. The judge decides whether the charges are proven and whether you qualify for any relief. A Notice to Appear can follow an arrest, a USCIS denial or other events. If yours came after a denial, see My Immigration Application Was Denied. ## Checking Your Hearing Date and Keeping Your Address Current ### Check Your Case Online or by Phone - Online: EOIR's Automated Case Information portal needs your A-Number and nationality. It is available in English and Spanish. - By phone: Call 1-800-898-7180, 24 hours a day, in English or Spanish. If your A-Number has eight digits, enter a zero first. The line gives the next hearing date, time and location, and decision information. - Respondent Access: People without a lawyer may be able to register for EOIR's Respondent Access portal to see case documents. EOIR mails a notice when someone is eligible. Your written hearing notice is the official source. If what you see online does not match it, call the court. EOIR has warned that scammers have faked an EOIR phone number on caller ID, so be careful with unexpected calls asking for personal information. ### File a Change of Address (Form EOIR-33) You must report a new address or phone number to the immigration court within five working days, on Form EOIR-33/IC. You can file it online through Respondent Access, in person or by mail. Each family member with a case needs a separate form. Reporting your move to USCIS is a separate requirement. This matters because court notices go to the last address the court has. If you never receive a notice because the court had an old address, the judge can still order you removed. ## What Happens If You Miss a Hearing If you do not attend, the judge can order you removed "in absentia," meaning in your absence. This can happen when the government shows that written notice was provided and that you are removable. An in absentia order can be challenged with a motion to reopen only in limited situations: - Within 180 days, if you missed the hearing because of exceptional circumstances. Examples include your own serious illness, or the serious illness or death of a spouse, child or parent. - At any time, if you did not receive proper notice, or you were in federal or state custody through no fault of your own. Some people who were warned of the consequences and then missed a hearing also lose eligibility for some forms of relief for 10 years. If an emergency keeps you from court, contact the court and a lawyer as soon as you can. If you already have an order, see I Have a Deportation Order. ## Lawyers, Form EOIR-28 and Arrests at Court You have the right to a lawyer of your choice in immigration court, at no expense to the government. In practice, the court does not appoint one for you. When a lawyer takes your case, they file Form EOIR-28, a Notice of Entry of Appearance. Attorneys file it through ECAS, EOIR's electronic case system, in cases eligible for electronic filing. The lawyer then becomes your representative of record and receives the court's notices. Only licensed attorneys and accredited representatives of recognized organizations may represent you. EOIR warns about immigration scams by a notario or "immigration consultant," who is not authorized to practice immigration law in the United States. ### Arrests at Immigration Courts in 2025 and 2026 Since May 2025, government attorneys in some courts have asked judges to dismiss cases during hearings. ICE has then arrested some people at or near the courthouse to place them in expedited removal. That is a faster process that usually does not include a hearing before a judge. These practices have been challenged in federal courts, and the rules have shifted more than once. Missing a hearing carries its own serious consequences, described above. If you are worried about your hearing, talk with an immigration lawyer before the date so you understand your situation and options. ## How First Point Can Help Our immigration team, Katherine Martell and Khadija N. Khan, can review your Notice to Appear and hearing notices, explain what to expect, help you gather evidence and represent you in immigration court. We also represent people held in ICE detention and handle bond hearings. Immigration law is federal, so we work with clients in Virginia, in other states and abroad. Much of the work can be done by phone and email. Learn more about our immigration law services. What to bring to a consultation: - Your Notice to Appear and every hearing notice - Any papers from ICE, USCIS or an earlier court case - Your passport, ID and A-Number - Records of any arrest or criminal case, with the final outcome - Evidence for any application you filed or may file ## Your immigration team - Katherine Martell Managing Partner - Khadija N. Khan Attorney ## Frequently Asked Questions Can you look up immigration court dates? Yes. Enter your A-Number and nationality in EOIR's Automated Case Information portal. You can also call 1-800-898-7180 at any hour, in English or Spanish. Both show your next hearing date, time and location. Your written hearing notice is the official source, so call the court if anything does not match. What should you wear to immigration court? EOIR asks everyone in court to respect its decorum and dress appropriately. Clean, neat clothing, like what you would wear to an important appointment, is common, and a suit is not required. Plan for a security screening at the entrance, where you may be asked to remove your shoes. What is ACIJ? ACIJ stands for Assistant Chief Immigration Judge. ACIJs are senior judges in EOIR's Office of the Chief Immigration Judge who oversee assigned immigration courts. EOIR lists the ACIJ for each court on its court pages. EOIR reports more than 650 immigration judges in 72 immigration courts and three adjudication centers. Can I bring my children to immigration court? If your child is a respondent in the case, the child must attend unless the judge excuses them. Otherwise, EOIR asks that children not be brought to court, and children may not wait unsupervised in the waiting area. If childcare is a problem, ask your lawyer or the court about it before the hearing date. Is it possible to get a free immigration lawyer? The immigration court does not appoint lawyers, even for people who cannot pay. EOIR publishes a list of pro bono legal service providers, organized by court and updated every quarter. Be careful with anyone who is not a licensed attorney or accredited representative but offers to handle your case. How much does an immigration lawyer usually cost? It depends on the type of case, how many hearings it needs, and the applications and evidence involved. Government filing fees are separate from legal fees. First Point explains its fees before you decide to hire us. What is the 7 year rule for immigrants? People often mean cancellation of removal for green card holders. A judge may grant it if the person has held a green card for at least 5 years and has no aggravated felony conviction. The person must also have lived here continuously for 7 years after being admitted in any status. People without a green card face a different test, including 10 years of presence. Some events, such as receiving a Notice to Appear, can stop the clock, so eligibility depends on your history. This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different. To talk about yours, call (703) 385-6868 or request a consultation. ## Sources - EOIR: Annandale Immigration Court - EOIR: Sterling Immigration Court - EOIR: Learn About Immigration Court - EOIR: Automated Case Information - EOIR: Customer Service Initiatives (1-800-898-7180 case information line) - EOIR: Update Respondent Information (Form EOIR-33/IC) - EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.10: Interpreters - EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.11: Courtroom Decorum and Children - EOIR: Find an Immigration Court and Access Internet-Based Hearings - 8 U.S.C. 1229a (INA 240): Removal proceedings, including in absentia orders Last reviewed October 23, 2026 ## Related situations - My family member was detained by ICE How to find a detained family member, how immigration bond works in 2026, and what to know about Farmville and Caroline. - I have a deportation order What a deportation order means, how to check your case, and the motions, appeals and stays that may still be possible. - My immigration application was denied What to do after a green card, family petition or citizenship denial: motions, appeals, refiling and the deadlines that apply. Contact First Point Law Group ## Let’s start witha conversation. Big decisions deserve personal attention. Tell us what kind of legal guidance you’re looking for, and let’s discuss the next step. Personal guidance. Clear next steps. ### We’re here tolisten first. Whether you’re planning your family’s future or facing a difficult legal issue, start by speaking with our team. [Call our office**(703) 385-6868**](tel:+17033856868) [Visit us in Fairfax**10521 Judicial Drive, Suite 300***Fairfax, VA 22030*](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=First+Point+Law+Group+10521+Judicial+Dr+Suite+300+Fairfax+VA+22030) [Send an email**info@firstpointlaw.com**](mailto:info@firstpointlaw.com) **First Point Law Group** · Fairfax, Virginia