Stage 3: Preparing For Your Trial/Asylum Interview

How you submit your evidence depends on whether or not you submitted your asylum application affirmatively or defensively. Please refer to this section for information on the difference between the two asylum application types.

If you have submitted your asylum application defensively, you will need to… 

1. Print out three different copies of the evidence you would like to submit to the court. Remember that everything must be translated into English!

2. Print out three different copies of these two pages. 

3. On the first page, you will write your complete name, A number and the complete names and A numbers of any family members who are part of your case. Then, you will need to write the city and state of the immigration court, the name of the judge and the time and date of your individual hearing. 

   1. If you do not know the time and date of your Individual Hearing, you can refer back to this section for an overview of how to check for the time and date of your Individual Hearing. The steps are the same as checking for your master calendar hearing. 

4. On the second page, which you will include at the end of the packet of evidence you submit, Write your name, the date that you are filing your evidence packet and the address of the ICE Attorney’s office (OPLA) who has jurisdiction over your case. You must also make sure you sign the bottom of this page, as it proves to the Immigration Court that you are mailing a copy to the ICE Attorney.

   1. You can find your ICE Attorney’s office by looking it up via this link.

5. You’ll have to file one copy of the packet to ICE and your Immigration Court. To file with ICE, you will have to mail the packet to the address you put down for Step #4. To file with the immigration court, you can file in person or by mail. 

   1. If you file in person, ask the court clerk to also stamp your copy - this is your proof that you submitted your evidence!

   2. If you file by mail, make sure you mail the packet via USPS certified mail and keep proof of your tracking number.

6. Finally, make sure you keep your third stamped copy and bring it with you to the immigration court for your individual/merits hearing.