What is an Immigration Evaluation?
An immigration evaluation is a comprehensive clinical assessment that a licensed mental health professional completes for persons navigating immigration proceedings and seeking to adjust their legal status. Evaluations are often used as supportive evidence for an immigration petition. An evaluation aims to provide objective and professional feedback on the client’s psychological functioning, physical safety, and extreme hardship. We often collaborate with attorneys to ensure that we understand the specifics of your petition and the details relevant to your case.
Evaluation Types
- VAWA/Spousal Abuse
- Extreme Hardship
- Asylum
- U-Visas
- T-Visas
Evaluation Includes
Collateral contact with your attorney
Two Virtual Interviews with a mental health professional (1-2 hours each)
Detailed biopsychosocial history questionnaire
Review of relevant documents (police reports, medical records)
Diagnosis screenings
Clinical DSM-5 diagnosis (if applicable)
Education on symptoms and diagnosis
Community resources for ongoing care
Clinical Evaluation Report 12-15 pages
The Evaluation Process
You will be scheduled for two assessment interviews via telehealth using a HIPAA-compliant platform. Each interview will be scheduled for two hours. During the interview, we discuss in-depth information about your work and family history, your current situation around your immigration case, past trauma, conditions of your home country, any previous mental health diagnoses, your support system here in the United States, your plans for the future, and anything else relevant to your case. Depending on the type of waiver, family members may be invited to the interview as part of the process. You will be provided with a questionnaire to complete before your first interview. After your first interview, your therapist will ask you to complete a few questionnaires to return to the second interview. After your final interview, your therapist will compile all the information gathered and generate a clinical evaluation report. We typically complete the report 2-3 weeks after the final interview. We then send the report to you and your attorney for review.
If you still have questions, please visit our FAQ by clicking the link above. Then, if you are ready to schedule an appointment, contact the office to request an appointment.