From time to time inclement weather forces the closing of government offices, including offices of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). When that happens, it's important to know where to go or who to call to ensure an applicant is not missing an important scheduled hearing or interview.
Here are some suggestions applicants can follow if they have an appointment scheduled with USCIS and they want to verify that the office is open for business and to obtain further instructions on rescheduling the appointment if the office is closed.
- Review the "Field Office Closings" or the "News Alerts" page at USCIS' website.
- Call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.
- Contact the local district office through USCIS' Office Locator feature.
- Check the operating status of government offices through the U.S. Office of Personnel Management or the Federal Executive Boards.
- Got Twitter? Follow @USCIS to get the latest updates.
- Sign up to get e-mail updates from USCIS.
If an individual has an immigration hearing scheduled before an immigration court of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), here are some recommendations to verify that the office is open for business. Not attending a scheduled hearing can have grave consequences. Check ahead with more than one source to make sure.
- Call 1-800-898-7180 and press 3 for Court Closings.
- Check the website for EOIR.
- Call the immigration court where the hearing is scheduled.
- Check the operating status of government offices through the U.S. Office of Personnel Management or the Federal Executive Boards
Needless to say applicants should be contacting their attorney if they have one. If the attorney doesn't know whether the office is open for business, let the attorney know where to obtain the information and bill them for your time.
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