Immigration update · May 26, 2026
What to Do After Receiving a Notice to Appear
Key takeaway
A plain-English guide to saving the Notice to Appear, checking court information, protecting address updates, and preparing for immigration court deadlines.
A plain-English guide to saving the Notice to Appear, checking court information, protecting address updates, and preparing for immigration court deadlines.
A Notice to Appear can start removal proceedings, so the first job is not to panic or guess. Save the full document, every page, the envelope, and any ICE or USCIS papers that arrived with it.
Next, identify the A-number if one appears on the notice. Use it to check EOIR case information, but do not treat an online result as a substitute for every written notice.
Address updates are one of the most important practical issues. If the person moves, the immigration court and any other relevant agency must receive the correct address update.
For intake, include the Notice to Appear, hearing notices, address history, prior filings, criminal or traffic records if any, detention history if any, and the best phone number.
What to include with intake
- Full name and best phone number
- A-number or receipt number if available
- Copies of notices, envelopes, court papers, and receipts
- Current address and prior address history
- Any deadline, hearing date, detention location, or ICE check-in date
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What to do next
- Save the full notice, receipt, envelope, and any deadline exactly as written.
- Write a short timeline with dates, agency names, court or facility names, and prior filings.
- If ICE, court, detention, an RFE, NOID, denial, or a close deadline is involved, start intake and mark the issue urgent.
Need help understanding your notice or deadline?
Start intake with the notice, deadline, A-number or receipt number if available, and the safest callback number. The firm reviews the request before confirming next steps.
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