ICE Check-Ins: Orders of Supervision, Recognizance, ATD and What to Bring

Many people released from immigration custody must "check in" with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On June 1, 2026, ICE last updated its official check-in page, ice.gov/check-in (opens in new tab), which explains how to schedule, change and keep an ICE reporting appointment and how to keep your address current. This article explains, in plain language, what that page and the underlying law say: what a check-in is, which release papers create the duty to report, how Alternatives to Detention works, and what can happen if a check-in is missed.

This is general information about federal rules, not legal advice.

What an ICE check-in is

An ICE check-in is a reporting appointment with ICE, the enforcement agency of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It is a condition of a person's release from custody. The duty to report usually comes from the release paperwork itself. ICE's check-in page explains where to find the reporting date, time and place:

• Released with a Notice to Appear (Form I-862): the details are on the Order of Release on Recognizance, Form I-220A.
• Released with an expedited removal order (Form I-860), on parole, on Alternatives to Detention, or with a Notice to Report: the details are on a Call-In Letter, Form G-56.

The Form I-220A itself says the person is released under section 236 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and lists conditions such as reporting for any hearing or interview as directed by ICE or the immigration court, reporting to an ICE officer as directed, not changing residence without written permission, obeying the law, and helping ICE obtain travel documents.

A different form applies after a final removal order. Under INA 241(a)(3) (8 U.S.C. 1231(a)(3)), a person who is not removed within the 90-day removal period is placed under supervision. The regulation, 8 CFR 241.5 (opens in new tab), says that release is made through Form I-220B, Order of Supervision, with conditions that include reporting to an officer periodically, helping obtain a travel document, getting advance approval for certain travel, and giving DHS written notice of any change of address. The officer may also require a bond and may, in limited situations, grant work authorization. Our guide to detention after a removal order explains that 90-day period in more detail.

A check-in is not an immigration-court hearing

An ICE check-in and an immigration-court hearing are two separate obligations with two separate agencies. ICE is part of DHS. Immigration courts belong to the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), part of the Department of Justice. A check-in appointment does not replace a court date, and a court date does not replace a check-in.

Missing a court hearing has its own serious consequence. Under INA 240(b)(5) (8 U.S.C. 1229a(b)(5)), a person who received proper written notice and does not attend can be ordered removed in absentia, and notice sent to the most recent address the person gave the court is considered sufficient. See our hub on removal proceedings and our explainer on the Notice to Appear.

How to schedule or change a check-in online

ICE's check-in page says appointments can be made online at checkin.ice.gov from a phone, tablet or computer. You need the paperwork you received at the border, because it shows the Subject ID and the place of birth you gave. According to ICE:

• Scheduling online meets the requirements of your release, even if the next available appointment is later than the deadline on your paperwork. ICE says that at some locations the next available appointment may be a year away.
• If you already have an appointment from your release paperwork, you do not need to make a new one. If you have moved, you can report to an ICE office near you on that same day.
• If you cannot make the scheduled time, ICE says you can come any time that day and still meet the requirements of your release.
• After booking, you receive a confirmation number. ICE says you can print, email or text the details, and that this record can show you tried to meet your release requirements.

ICE's page also links the ICE Portal (portal.ice.gov), which offers address updates with ICE, court hearing details and appointment tools.

Alternatives to Detention (ATD-ISAP)

Some people are released into ICE's Alternatives to Detention program, called the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP). ICE's ATD page (opens in new tab), updated May 18, 2026, says adults 18 or older released from DHS custody who are generally in removal proceedings or under a final removal order may be eligible. ICE describes three technologies: telephonic reporting with a voiceprint, a GPS ankle or wrist device, and the SmartLINK app, which uses facial comparison at check-in. ICE states that it requires check-ins and that missed check-ins send automatic alerts to the officer or case manager monitoring the case.

The I-220A form says that when release depends on ATD, failing to follow the program's requirements will lead to a review of the release conditions or to arrest and detention.

Can a person be detained at a check-in?

Yes, the law allows it. The official documents say so directly:

• The Form I-220A warns that failing to comply with its conditions "may result in revocation of your release and your arrest and detention" by ICE.
• Under INA 236(b) (8 U.S.C. 1226(b)), the government may revoke a bond or conditional parole at any time, rearrest the person and detain them.
• For people under an order of supervision, 8 CFR 241.4(l) (opens in new tab) allows a return to custody for violating release conditions. It also allows release to be revoked when, among other reasons, it is appropriate to enforce a removal order. The person must be told the reasons and given a prompt informal interview to respond.

These rules do not mean every check-in ends in detention. They mean a check-in is an appearance before an agency that has the power to arrest. Learn more on our immigration detention hub.

What to bring and how to prepare

Based on ICE's own materials, bring:

• All release paperwork (I-220A, I-220B, G-56 or other papers) and your appointment confirmation. The G-56 says to bring the letter with you.
• Proof of your current address. ICE's change-of-address flyer says to give a copy of your filed EOIR-33 to your ICE officer at check-in.
• Any requests for your documents. ICE says you can ask at your check-in for the return of an ID, passport or other paperwork it holds, and ICE will review the request.

It also makes sense to know your A-number, to check your next court date, and to make sure a family member knows where you are going and how to reach your lawyer.

Keeping your address current: ICE, EOIR-33 and AR-11

Three agencies may need your new address, and each has its own rule:

• ICE: the check-in page asks you to update ICE within five days of moving, by phone or through ICE's online change-of-address tool.
• Immigration court (EOIR): under 8 CFR 1003.15(d)(2), a person in proceedings must file Form EOIR-33 with the immigration court within five days of any change of address.
• USCIS: USCIS says noncitizens must report a change of address within 10 days of moving, generally online or with Form AR-11, under INA 265 (8 U.S.C. 1305).

Updating one agency does not update the others. ICE's page says people released with a Notice to Appear must update both ICE and EOIR.

Consequences of missing a check-in

The consequences depend on the type of release. The I-220A warns of possible revocation of release, arrest and detention. Under 8 CFR 241.4(l), a person under an order of supervision who violates its conditions may be returned to custody. Federal law (INA 243(b), 8 U.S.C. 1253(b)) also makes willful failure to comply with supervision requirements under INA 241(a)(3) a crime punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to one year in prison, or both. A missed check-in is not the same as a missed court hearing, but either can seriously harm a case.

Talk to Carlos Maury Law

If you or a family member has an ICE check-in coming up, has missed one, or is unsure which papers apply, the facts matter. Carlos Maury Law is a national firm led by a former U.S. Immigration Judge. Call (213) 769-0050 to discuss your situation. We speak Spanish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ICE check-in?

It is a reporting appointment with ICE that is a condition of release from immigration custody. The date, time and place are usually on the release papers, such as Form I-220A or a Form G-56 call-in letter, or are booked online at checkin.ice.gov.

Is an ICE check-in the same as my immigration court hearing?

No. A check-in is with ICE, part of DHS. A hearing is before an immigration judge at EOIR, part of the Department of Justice. You must attend both. Missing a court hearing can lead to a removal order in absentia.

What if the next available ICE appointment is after my deadline?

ICE says booking the next available online appointment meets the requirements of your release, even if it is later than the date on your paperwork. Keep the confirmation details.

Can ICE detain me at a check-in?

The law allows it. Form I-220A warns that failing to follow its conditions may lead to arrest and detention, and the statute and regulations let ICE revoke release in certain cases. Not every check-in ends that way, but it is wise to prepare.

Do I have to change my address with ICE, the court and USCIS?

Often, yes. ICE asks for updates within five days, the immigration court requires Form EOIR-33 within five days, and USCIS requires a change-of-address report within 10 days. Which ones apply depends on your release papers and filings.

This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Immigration law is complex and fact-specific, and policies change; consult a qualified immigration attorney about your situation and verify current requirements at ice.gov and justice.gov/eoir. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising.

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