EOIR FOIA Requests: How to Get Immigration Court Records

This guide explains EOIR FOIA requests for people who need copies of immigration court records. A court file may include charging documents, hearing notices, orders, exhibits, appeal records, and other materials that are essential before reopening a case or applying for a benefit.

An EOIR request is different from a USCIS A-file request. EOIR records usually relate to immigration court and Board of Immigration Appeals proceedings, while USCIS records may include petitions, applications, and agency correspondence. Many cases need both.

Before filing, collect the person's full name, aliases, date of birth, A-number, court location, approximate hearing dates, and any prior order. After receiving records, review whether notices were sent correctly, whether an order was entered in absentia, and whether deadlines still matter.

New Horizons Legal helps clients request the right records, read the court history, and decide whether the file supports a motion to reopen, appeal strategy, family petition, waiver, or defense plan.