EOIR's Record of Proceeding (ROP) is the official immigration-court case file. If your case has an electronic ROP, eligible users may be able to download it through Respondent Access. If the record is maintained only on paper, the download option is not available and EOIR directs users to the ROP request process.
Who can use the direct ROP process?
EOIR says respondents, attorneys of record, parents or guardians of children in proceedings, and certain DHS representatives can request an ROP directly in the situations described by EOIR. Other requesters may need the FOIA process.
What information is required?
EOIR recommends Form EOIR-59 because it collects the information needed to process the request. If you do not use that form, EOIR's current instructions list identifying information such as the person's full name, date and place of birth, A-number, the portions of the record requested, and the requested delivery method. Additional verification or relationship documentation may be required depending on who is asking.
Where is the request sent?
For an immigration-court ROP, direct the request to the court where the relevant proceeding is or was handled as instructed by EOIR. EOIR currently provides email, mail, and in-person options for immigration-court ROP requests. BIA requests follow the Board's instructions.
Do not send duplicate requests just to speed it up
EOIR specifically warns that duplicate requests do not make processing faster and can slow the queue. If EOIR says a request cannot be fulfilled because information was missing or incorrect, correct the problem before resubmitting.
Official sources
This page is general procedural information. Follow EOIR's current instructions for your record location and requester type.