How to transcribe an immigration court hearing recording
Short answer
Attorneys of record can request the hearing audio through EOIR's record of proceedings process; others use FOIA. Upload it, label the judge, counsel, respondent and interpreter, and review interpreted passages against the audio. The result is a working copy, not the official transcript. This is not legal advice.
Immigration court hearings are digitally recorded, and attorneys of record can request a copy of the audio. Reviewing a prior hearing, a master calendar session or an individual hearing by ear means hours of listening, often through an interpreter switching between English and another language.
This guide covers how the audio is typically requested, how to turn it into a searchable working transcript, and the limits you should keep in mind. It's general information, not legal advice.
Transcribe a hearing recording in 3 steps
- 1
Request the recording
Attorneys and representatives of record can request the record of proceedings, including the digital audio recording, from the immigration court or the Board of Immigration Appeals where the case is (EOIR's "Request for ROP and audio" process; an EOIR-28 must be on file). Others use a FOIA request. Check the court's current instructions, as procedures vary.
- 2
Upload the audio to Dolcenota
Open Dolcenota in your browser and upload the file (mp3, wav, m4a and other common formats, up to 4 hours). If the hearing came in several files, upload them together.
- 3
Label speakers and review
Rename speakers (Immigration Judge, DHS counsel, Respondent's counsel, Respondent, Interpreter), search for key testimony, ask questions about what was said, and export to Word or PDF for your file.
Hearings with an interpreter
Many hearings alternate between English and the respondent's language through an interpreter. Dolcenota transcribes English and Spanish. When both languages alternate in the same recording, accuracy can vary, so review interpreted passages against the audio, and compare the interpreter's English rendering with what the respondent said when it matters.
Working copy, not the official record
A Dolcenota transcript is a fast, searchable working copy for preparation: reviewing testimony, preparing a client, drafting a brief. It is not a certified transcript. For an appeal, the official transcript is prepared through the immigration court system; don't substitute an AI transcript for it.
Confidentiality
Recordings are processed on Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure, stored encrypted, never used to train AI models, and you can delete them anytime. Check your professional-conduct rules on using cloud services for client material before uploading.
Frequently asked questions
Is the transcript certified?
No. It's a working copy for preparation and review, not an official or certified transcript.
Does it handle Spanish and English in the same hearing?
It transcribes both languages, but when they alternate in one recording accuracy can vary. Review interpreted passages against the audio.
How long does it take?
Usually a few minutes once the file has uploaded, even for a multi-hour hearing.
Can I label the judge, counsel and interpreter?
Yes. Rename each speaker and the names appear in the transcript, summary and exports.
How much does it cost?
The free plan includes 60 minutes a month. Plus is $7.99 a month for 400 minutes.
Review your next hearing in text
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