A Master Calendar Hearing refers to the foreign national’s first appearance in the immigration court.  In a Master Calendar Hearing, the foreign national is present with his or her attorney in the immigration court based on the government’s allegation that the foreign national is removable.  The foreign national will be asked to pronounce and spell his or her name for the record.  The court then reads the allegations by the government, which usually contains basic facts such as the foreign national’s name, country of nationality, and method of entry.  Usually, the allegations are basic and only contain indisputable facts.  Thus, the attorney will concede to the allegations.  The court will then ask if the attorney has indentified potential applications on behalf of the foreign national.  Depending on a variety of factors, the attorney may or may not have identified applications that the foreign national may be qualified.  If not, the attorney may ask the court to continue (delay) the Master Calendar hearing until another day,  at which time, the attorney must identify certain applications in which the foreign national may be qualified, such as cancellation of removal, extreme hardship waiver, 601 waiver, 212(c) waiver, Section 245(a) waiver, and asylum.  If the court agrees with the attorney, it will provide the attorney additional time to prepare such application and preserve arguments for the Merit Hearing. 

 

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