Immigration Justice Campaign is an initiative of American Immigration Council, American Immigration Lawyers Association.

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Master Calendar Hearing

The first several immigration court appearances in an LPR cancellation case are generally one or more “master calendar” hearings. These materials on this page will walk you through what Master Calendars are, how they work, and how to prepare for them.


Required Step

EOIR E-registry

In order to enter an appearance on behalf of your client in immigration court, you must first register to practice before the immigration court by completing EOIR’s E-registry process. It is a two-step process involving online registration followed by in-person verification of your identity at your local immigration court.

Required Form

Fillable EOIR-28

You must file this form at or before your client’s first Master Calendar hearing in order to be entered as the attorney of record on your client’s case.

Webinar
33 Min.

Preparing for Master Calendar Hearings

Immigration Justice Campaign
Your first appearance in immigration court for your asylum-seeking client will be at a brief "master calendar" hearing. Watch this short webinar to learn what happens during master calendar hearings, how to prepare for them, and what to expect after the master calendar.

Mock
Hearing

Mock Master Calendar Hearing

Prof. Michele Pistone, Villanova University
This video is a mock master calendar hearing in an asylum case.

Sample

Annotated Notice to Appear

Immigration Justice Campaign
An annotated Notice to Appear that explains how to read this document, the charging document in Immigration Court proceedings.

Article

Introduction to Removal Proceedings

American Immigration Lawyers Association
An overview of Immigration Court proceedings. Particularly useful is the description of master calendar hearings (p. 5-7), individual/merits hearings (p. 17-19), and key immigration law sourcebooks/treatises (p. 2-3).