ICE Appointment: How to Book, What to Bring, and Rescheduling

An ICE check-in appointment is a scheduled report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement that non-citizens released on an Order of Supervision, bond, or parole must attend to stay in compliance while their removal case is pending. Everyone in removal proceedings has to check in at least once a year, and many people report more often than that. You book the appointment yourself at checkin.ice.gov, bring your ID and paperwork on the day, and leave with a document showing your next reporting date. Missing one can lead to detention, fines, or an arrest warrant.

How to Book the Appointment Online

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) runs an online scheduler at checkin.ice.gov that works from a phone, tablet, or computer.¹ You log in with the Subject ID and place of birth printed on your release paperwork, complete a verification puzzle, and submit. Enter your address or zip code and the system shows the three closest ERO offices. Pick one, choose the soonest available slot, and confirm. Save the confirmation number by printing, emailing, or texting it to yourself.

Two things about the online system are worth knowing before you start. Booking online counts as meeting your reporting requirement even if the earliest available slot falls after the deadline printed on your paperwork, and it counts even if your current location doesn’t match the address on your documents.¹ You do not need to call or visit an office just to make the appointment.

What to Bring

Your appointment confirmation page lists exactly what’s required for your case. In most cases you’ll want:

A government-issued photo ID such as a valid passport or state ID. Bring your Employment Authorization Document if you have one.
Your immigration paperwork, including the Order of Supervision (Form I-220B), any notices from immigration court, and the appointment confirmation with its confirmation number.
Proof of your address and compliance with release conditions. Officers commonly ask for recent pay stubs, utility bills, or school enrollment records.

Put everything in one folder and keep copies of anything you hand over. The officer uses these documents to confirm who you are and that you’re following the terms of your supervision, so showing up without them creates avoidable problems.

What Happens at the Appointment

Expect a courthouse-style security checkpoint at the door. You’ll walk through a magnetometer, your bags get screened, and some facilities add pat-downs. Leave anything that could be flagged as contraband at home or in your car.

After security, you check in at a reception window or kiosk. Staff verify your identity and notify your assigned ERO officer. Wait times depend on how many people are scheduled that session, so plan for it to take a while.

The meeting itself is short and predictable. The officer confirms your identity, often by collecting fingerprints or other biometrics. They’ll ask about your current address, your employment, and anything that has changed since your last visit. This is where the pay stubs and utility bills come in. The officer may also ask about the status of your immigration case and any steps you’ve taken to obtain a travel document, which is a standard condition under an Order of Supervision.² At the end, you’ll receive paperwork confirming that you reported and showing your next reporting date. That date could be weeks, months, or a year out. Keep the paperwork; it’s your proof of compliance.

Rescheduling or Canceling

If the date doesn’t work, use the same online system to change it. Log in with your Subject ID and place of birth, open your current appointment, and choose “Reschedule Your Appointment” or “Cancel Your Appointment.”¹

ICE also allows some flexibility on the day itself. If you show up at the right office on the right day but at a different time than your scheduled slot, that still counts as meeting your reporting requirement.¹ That flexibility is about timing on the correct day only. It does not mean you can skip the day entirely and turn up whenever you want.

If you can’t use the online system, call the deportation officer at the number on your appointment notice. Have a legitimate reason ready, such as a medical emergency or a conflicting court hearing, and suggest alternative dates. Until you have a confirmed new date, treat the original appointment as still binding.

What Happens If You Miss It

The Order of Supervision warns in plain language that failing to comply with its terms can result in a fine, detention, or criminal prosecution.³ Federal regulations allow ICE to return anyone released under an Order of Supervision to custody for violating the conditions of release. The agency can revoke the order and detain you for an additional six months to carry out removal, and in serious cases refer the matter to a U.S. Attorney for criminal prosecution.⁴ You’ll be told the reasons for the revocation and given an informal interview to respond, but by then you’re already back in custody.

People who fail to report after receiving notice are classified as ICE fugitives. ERO’s Fugitive Operations Teams target individuals who failed to report to an ERO officer, especially those flagged for public safety or national security concerns.⁵ Once you’re on that list, any interaction with law enforcement can end in arrest. The check-in itself is usually the easiest part. Skipping it is what creates the real problem.

Report Any Address Change Within 10 Days

Federal law requires every non-citizen in the United States to report a change of address within ten days of moving.⁶ File Form AR-11 online through your USCIS account or send a paper copy by mail.⁷ The online option satisfies the legal requirement and processes almost immediately.

Skipping this step is a federal misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $200, up to 30 days in jail, or both. You can also be taken into custody and placed into removal proceedings whether or not you’re convicted, unless you can show the failure was reasonably excusable or unintentional.⁸ It’s one of the easiest compliance steps to handle and one of the most dangerous to overlook.

If You’re on Alternatives to Detention

Some people report through ICE’s Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program instead of, or on top of, in-person visits. The program uses three monitoring methods:⁹

Telephonic reporting, which matches your voice against a voiceprint recorded at enrollment during scheduled check-in calls.
GPS monitoring through a body-worn device, usually an ankle bracelet or wrist unit, that tracks location by satellite.
The SmartLINK smartphone app, which uses facial comparison to verify your identity and captures a single GPS point at check-in.

If you don’t own a phone, ICE will issue a device that runs only SmartLINK, and the app transfers to your own phone once you get one. SmartLINK does not access call logs, contacts, or text messages. Tampering with a GPS device or its accessories (chargers, batteries, power cords) can lead to arrest and prosecution, with penalties of up to ten years in prison.³ Failing to comply with ATD conditions triggers the same detention review as missing an in-person check-in.

Bringing an Attorney and Requesting an Interpreter

You can be represented by an attorney or accredited representative at your check-in. Your lawyer should file Form G-28 to formally enter their appearance in your case.¹⁰ Representation matters most if your case has complications, if you’re worried about a change in your supervision conditions, or if past communication with your officer has gone badly.

If English isn’t your primary language, ERO maintains a round-the-clock contract for interpretation and translation in more than 100 languages, including rare and Indigenous languages. Facility staff must arrange communication assistance through bilingual staff or professional interpreters. One limit to know: ERO’s language services only cover communication with ICE or detention facility staff. They don’t extend to help with other government agencies, benefit applications, or outside organizations.¹¹

1
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Check-In
2
eCFR. 8 CFR 241.5 – Conditions of Release After Removal Period
3
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE Form I-220B – Order of Supervision
4
eCFR. 8 CFR 241.13 – Determination of Whether There Is a Significant Likelihood of Removal
5
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Fugitive Operations
6
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1305 – Notification of Change of Address
7
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. How to Change Your Address
8
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1306 – Penalties
9
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Alternatives to Detention
10
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative
11
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ERO Language Access Information