San Francisco Immigration Court

Starting the immigration process can be daunting. The amount of paperwork and legal procedures you need to face can be a mountainous task. If you are currently residing in San Francisco, you may be wondering if there is an immigration court in San Francisco.

You might be wondering about the court’s working hours or security procedures you need to follow. After all, this is a long and tedious process in itself, so you want to do everything right the first time. Not to worry! In this post, we’ll go over everything you need to know about the immigration court in San Francisco.

Is There an Immigration Court in San Francisco?

You will be pleased to learn that there is an immigration court in San Francisco. The San Francisco Immigration Court falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, which ultimately comes under the Department of Justice.

In fact, there are two immigration courts in San Francisco, each of them catering to different sets of immigrants in the country. One of the courts caters to those detained inside the United States, while the other caters to those who have not been detained.

Where Is the Immigration Court in San Francisco?

If you wish to visit the immigration court in San Francisco, you need to be aware of something first. There are two different courts with separate locations in San Francisco. The first immigration court is the one where detained aliens are taken, and the other court handles non-detained hearings and cases.

The immigration court for detained aliens is located on Sansome Street in San Francisco. The full address is:

630 Sansome Street, 4th Floor, Room 475San Francisco, CA 94111

The court for non-detained aliens is located on Montgomery Street. The full address is:

100 Montgomery Street, Suite 800San Francisco, CA 94104

You can find both of these locations on Google Maps. However, keep in mind that there is extremely limited parking space outside both of these courts. That is why it would be best to take public transportation to reach both of these locations. They are both situated in areas that are easily accessible by bus. Several bus stops are relatively close to the courts if you are taking the Muni Line. If you do not wish to take the bus, you can also opt for the CalTrain instead.

What Are the Working Hours for the Immigration Courts in San Francisco?

If you are thinking about visiting the immigration court in San Francisco, there are several things you need to consider before you head out. For instance, the working hours and the window filing hours are different for the detained immigration court and the non-detained court in San Francisco.

The public hours and the window filing hours for the immigration court for detained aliens are between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., while the non-detained court hours are also between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., but with an hour-long break in the middle (between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.).

What Is the Phone Number for the Immigration Court in San Francisco?

If you’re wondering how to contact the immigration court in San Francisco, then calling them on the phone would be your best bet. This is because both the detained and non-detained courts are extremely strict when it comes to unauthorized transmissions and faxes.

If you do happen to send across an electronic submission or fax that is unauthorized, then your document is most likely going to be destroyed without being opened and without any notice to you. However, if you have been authorized by an immigration lawyer or the Immigration Court Staff to send over a fax or electronic document, then you can rest assured those are also available options.

That being said, if you wish to contact the immigration court, here is the phone number for the court that handles detained aliens:

415-705-1033

Alternatively, if you wish to contact the court that handles non-detained aliens, you can use the number below:

415-705-4415

What Are the Security Procedures for the Immigration Court in San Francisco?

Of course, those wishing to visit the immigration courts in San Francisco will need to undergo some security procedures before they are allowed inside. First, you cannot carry any cameras or video recording equipment inside the premises. It would be best if you leave those at home before coming to the court.

There will also be a security screening test (in the form of a metal detector machine) you will be required to pass through. Make sure you are not carrying any pocket knives or other kinds of weapons while visiting. Your bags will also have to pass through the handbag screening test every time you visit the court.

Keep in mind that you might be required to take off your shoes during the screening, in which case, it might be a good idea to wear shoes that are easy for you to remove and wear again.

Once you reach the lobby, you will be required to sign in and check in with the attendant. If you are simply a visitor or an attorney who has come to visit your client, make sure you designate a different location from the lobby or the entrance area for all your meetings. This is because, according to the building policy of the immigration court, visitors and lawyers are not allowed to remain in the lobby area or near the entrance doors.

Visitors might also be required to show a valid government-issued ID before they are allowed to enter the building. Ensure you carry everything you need along with valid photo identification so you do not face any trouble while entering the building.

Read More

• Guide to the Houston Immigration Court
• Guide to the Boston Immigration Court

Conclusion

Visiting the immigration court for the first time can be a daunting experience. But you should not be worrying about mundane details such as where the immigration court is located and what security procedures you need to follow. This is why we have put together this post so you can focus on the more important aspects of the immigration journey.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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