Once the case is removed to federal court, the response (motion to dismiss, answer or other pleading) deadline for a defendant who did not answer in state court is the longer of (a) 21 days after receiving — through service or otherwise — a copy of the initial pleading stating the claim for relief, (b) 21 days after ...
Procedurally, it is simple. The defendant files a motion to remove in federal court, a notice to the same effect in state court, and gives notice to all the parties. The case is then docketed in federal court and proceeds there.
The notice of removal of a civil action or proceeding shall be filed within 30 days after the receipt by the defendant, through service or otherwise, of a copy of the initial pleading setting forth the claim for relief upon which such action or proceeding is based, or within 30 days after the service of summons upon ...
Thus, to remove a case from state court to federal court, a defendant must show that federal courts have jurisdiction over the case as both a statutory and a constitutional matter.
Each defendant shall have 30 days after receipt by or service on that defendant of the initial pleading or summons described in paragraph (1) to file the notice of removal.
28 U.S.C. § 1448 governs the requirements of process after removal, providing that when defendants are not completely or perfectly served prior to removal, plaintiffs may complete such process or service, or new process may be issued in the same manner as in cases originally filed in the district court.
Generally, removal jurisdiction exists only if, at the time plaintiff filed the action in state court, the federal court had a basis for exercising subject-matter jurisdiction over the action, such as diversity of citizenship of the parties or where plaintiff's action involves a claim under federal law.