Which Number Should I Call — USCIS or EOIR?
There are two completely separate systems for checking an asylum clock, depending on where your case is:
- Affirmative asylum cases (filed with USCIS, not in removal proceedings): These cases use the CSOL tool (Clock Stoppage Online Tool) through your USCIS online account. See how to use the USCIS CSOL tool or the general check-your-asylum-clock guide if you're not sure which category you're in.
- Defensive asylum cases (asylum raised as a defense in removal proceedings before an Immigration Judge): CSOL does not apply to you. Instead, EOIR (the Executive Office for Immigration Review) runs its own automated phone hotline and online case status system, described on this page.
Defensive cases use EOIR clock records and hearing history, not the USCIS CSOL tool. If you're not sure whether your case is affirmative or defensive, check your notices — if you have a Notice to Appear or a hearing date with an Immigration Judge, your case is with EOIR.
The EOIR Asylum Clock Hotline Number
EOIR operates an automated case information hotline that defensive asylum applicants can call to check their asylum clock / EAD clock status:
TDD 1-800-828-1120
Alternate Number 304-625-2050
This is a pre-recorded, automated line available 24/7. There are no live representatives on this number — it plays back recorded case information based on the A-Number you enter.
How to Call: Step by Step
Here is the exact call script to check your asylum clock / EAD clock through the EOIR hotline:
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Dial the hotline
Call 1-800-898-7180 (TDD: 1-800-828-1120). If you have trouble getting through, try the alternate number, 304-625-2050.
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Enter your 9-digit A-Number
When prompted, enter your 9-digit Alien Registration Number (A-Number) using your phone's keypad.
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Press 2 for asylum clock / EAD clock information
Follow the recorded menu and press 2 to hear your case's asylum clock / EAD clock information.
Have your A-Number ready before you call. Since this is an automated, no-representative line, you cannot ask follow-up questions on the call itself — if the recorded information is unclear or you need clarification, see what to do below.
ACIS: EOIR's Online Case Status System
In addition to the phone hotline, EOIR runs an online system called the Automated Case Information System (ACIS), available at acis.eoir.justice.gov. ACIS shows immigration court and Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) case status information online, as an alternative or supplement to calling the hotline.
What If the Recorded Information Seems Wrong?
For affirmative USCIS cases, there's a known dispute path: if stoppages in your CSOL record are incorrectly attributed to you, you can file an e-Request to dispute them (see the clock stoppages section of our asylum clock guide).
We have not verified an EOIR-specific correction procedure equivalent to the USCIS e-Request process. If the recorded information on the EOIR hotline seems wrong or doesn't match your case, do not guess — ask your immigration court's clerk's office directly, or consult an immigration attorney. Do not rely on this page for a correction process that isn't described here.
Affirmative vs. Defensive: Quick Reference
Use this table to confirm you're calling the right number for your case type:
| Affirmative (USCIS) | Defensive (EOIR) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the case is filed | USCIS, proactively, not in removal proceedings | Raised as a defense in removal proceedings before an Immigration Judge |
| Clock tool | CSOL (Clock Stoppage Online Tool) via your USCIS online account at egov.uscis.gov | EOIR hotline (1-800-898-7180) or ACIS at acis.eoir.justice.gov |
| Phone option | USCIS Asylum Office: 1-800-375-5283 | EOIR hotline: 1-800-898-7180 (TDD: 1-800-828-1120), alternate 304-625-2050 |
| If information looks wrong | File an e-Request to dispute CSOL stoppages | Ask the immigration court clerk's office or an attorney |
For the full walkthrough of the 150-day and 180-day rules that apply to both case types, see the complete asylum clock guide. If your case is affirmative, the AsyClock calculator can estimate your 150-day filing date and 180-day EAD eligibility date once you have your USCIS receipt date and CSOL stoppage total.
If your case is in immigration court, an attorney experienced in defensive asylum can help you understand your clock, hearing schedule, and options. You can browse the AsyClock marketplace to compare immigration professional profiles, or ask the community for general, non-case-specific guidance.
This page reflects the EOIR hotline and ACIS system information available as of July 2026. It is not legal advice. Immigration court procedures and contact information can change — verify current details with the immigration court clerk's office, EOIR, or a licensed immigration attorney before relying on them for your case.
Have an Affirmative USCIS Case Instead?
If your asylum case was filed with USCIS and you're not in removal proceedings, use the free AsyClock calculator to estimate your 150-day filing date and 180-day EAD eligibility date from your I-589 receipt date and CSOL stoppage days.
Use the Free Calculator