Photo by Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash

Did you know that if you're involved in a court case in the United States you are supposed to have access to the filings?

The public's access to justice is a value that is supposed to be utilized throughout the entire legal system in the United States, but what that looks like in reality has differed widely among different states and different courts. 

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) administers the nation's immigration court system. In theory every person involved in a court case is supposed to be able to have access to the filings in their case, and to have a clear understanding of hearing dates and times. However, in practice, access has felt far easier for those with a lawyer. Now the EOIR has taken a massive, and very important, step to making access to justice a reality for unrepresented individuals. 

The new Respondent Access Portal allows individuals to view their case information and scheduled hearings online, download their electronic case file, and file documents with the Immigration Court. Throughout the month of July, immigration courts nationwide were supposed to mail an official notice to unrepresented respondents with details about how to register for the Respondent Access Portal. 

If you are unrepresented and still have not received the official notice, you can contact EOIR's customer service support ([email protected] or 1-877-388-3842), which is available Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. Eastern Time for respondents who have any questions or need assistance. They have interpretation services if needed. 

Being represented by an attorney in immigration court is always recommended, and we would be happy to serve you, as the processes and legal maneuvering involved in cases can be very complicated -- but we are happy that the EOIR is seeking to make public access to cases a priority for unrepresented individuals as well. This new online feature will be able to help a lot of people gain an understanding of their cases.  

If you would like assistance with an immigration petition, you can reach us at (757) 422-8472, or send us a message on our website. You can also schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys by clicking on this link.