A master hearing is a general update hearing given to those who are facing deportation or removal. Although the respondent/applicant is welcomed to attend, their appearance is not necessary, because the judge and the attorney for homeland just want take pleadings, admitting or denying the charges. They will designate a country for removal, should removal become necessary.
The master hearings are presently conducted remotely via Webex. Attorneys are instructed that unless the respondent is in the attorney’s office, the respondent should not appear because if they log in from a separate location noise and bandwidth issues can disrupt the hearings.
At the Master hearing, the judge will instruct the attorney to have the applicant make an appointment for their biometrics and set a date for individual/merits hearing.