Master Hearing, Individual Hearing, or Bond Hearing?

 Posted on June 25, 2025 in Immigration

Navigating the immigration court process can be confusing, and in today’s world, when immigrants are being arrested as they leave their hearing, the process is even more fraught with confusion and fear. There are essentially three types of immigration hearings: master hearings, individual hearings, and bond hearings.

Each of these hearings plays a specific role in removal proceedings, and it is important to understand the purpose of each hearing and what is at stake. This can help you better prepare for your hearing. Having an experienced Plano, TX immigration lawyer helping you through the process can make a difference, not only in how you approach your hearing but in the outcome as well.

How Will You Know Whether You Have an Immigration Hearing?

There are two types of notices you could receive regarding an immigration hearing. The first is a Notice to Appear (NTA). The NTA contains the time, date, and place of the hearing. If, for some reason, you have misplaced the NTA, you can call the Immigration Court Hotline. The other type of notice is a Notice of Hearing in Removal Proceedings. This document also lists the date, time, and place of your hearing while also explaining the purpose of the hearing. Free attorneys are not provided to those in Immigration Court proceedings.

What is a Master Calendar Hearing (MCH)?

The master calendar hearing is the most common type of immigration hearing and is typically brief. During a master calendar hearing, the immigration judge will ask you to admit or deny certain facts, including your country of citizenship, your date of entry into the United States, and the immigration charges against you. If you admit to the charges, you are, in effect, agreeing that the government can legally attempt to deport you.

If any of the information presented is wrong, you can deny the charges and ask the judge to make corrections. You can also deny the charges, even if they are true, forcing the government to prove those charges. If you are a green card holder or have another type of immigration status that the government is attempting to revoke, the government may not be able to deport you.

The judge will ask whether you intend to apply for specific immigration relief. If you answer affirmatively, you can submit your paperwork to the court. If you need more time, another master calendar hearing will be set. If you do not wish to ask for immigration relief, you can request voluntary departure.  

What is an Individual Calendar Hearing?

If you have submitted an application for immigration relief, you may receive notice of an individual calendar hearing where you will offer testimony. Witnesses can be examined during this hearing (on both sides), and both your immigration attorney and an ICE attorney can present legal arguments and evidence.

Individual calendar hearings can last as long as several hours and are usually considered the final hearing in your immigration case. The immigration judge will make a decision regarding whether to approve or deny your request for immigration relief. If your immigration relief request is denied, you have the right to appeal that decision.

What is a Bond Hearing?

If you have been detained by ICE, you may be able to ask for a bond hearing. During a bond hearing, you can ask the immigration judge to allow you to pay a bond and be released. Your immigration attorney will present evidence to the judge that you are not a flight risk. This evidence could include a job, a home, family members, a lack of criminal history, and the length of time you have been living in the United States. The amount of the bond could be as low as $1,500 or much higher.

Contact a Dallas, TX Immigration Lawyer

If you are facing an immigration court hearing, a Plano, TX immigration attorney from Law Office of Jae Lee is ready to help you through your hearing. Attorney Lee works with clients one-on-one and can work with you remotely. He is compassionate and experienced in all aspects of immigration. Call 214-295-3014 to schedule your free consultation.