Counseling
If your immigration attorney has recommended a psychological evaluation, you may be feeling nervous, confused or even a little afraid. That is completely understandable. Many people have never met with a counselor before, and the idea of talking about painful experiences with a stranger, for a legal case that matters so much, can feel like a lot. My hope is that knowing what to expect ahead of time makes the process feel a little lighter.
In this article
- What Is an Immigration Psychological Evaluation?
- Who Needs a Psychological Evaluation for Immigration?
- What Happens During an Immigration Psychological Evaluation?
- What Questions Will I Be Asked?
- How Long Does an Immigration Psychological Evaluation Take?
- Who Will See My Report?
- Choosing an Immigration Evaluator
- Do I Need to Speak English for an Immigration Evaluation?
- How Much Does an Immigration Psychological Evaluation Cost?
- How to Prepare for Your Evaluation
- Taking Care of Yourself After the Evaluation
- Working With Attorneys
- Schedule a Free Consultation
What Is an Immigration Psychological Evaluation?
An immigration psychological evaluation is a meeting with a licensed mental health professional that results in a written report for your immigration case. The report describes how certain experiences, such as persecution, abuse, trafficking or the possible separation of a family, have affected someone emotionally and psychologically.
Immigration officers and judges read a lot of paperwork. A clinical report gives them something they cannot get from forms alone: a professional assessment of the human impact of what you have been through, written in clear language and organized in a way that supports what your attorney is arguing.
It is important to know what an evaluation is not. It is not a test you pass or fail. It is not therapy, although many people find it meaningful to finally have their story heard. And it is not legal advice. Your attorney decides the legal strategy, and the evaluation provides clinical evidence to support it.
Who Needs a Psychological Evaluation for Immigration?
Your attorney is the best person to tell you whether an evaluation will help your specific case. In my practice, I complete immigration evaluations for four main types of cases.
Asylum Cases
People seeking asylum have often lived through frightening and traumatic experiences in their home country. An evaluation can describe symptoms of trauma, such as PTSD, and how those symptoms relate to the persecution someone experienced. Asylum applications generally need to be filed within one year of arriving in the United States, and an evaluation can also help explain psychological reasons someone may have missed that deadline.
Extreme Hardship Cases
In some waiver cases, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident family member must show that they would suffer extreme hardship if their loved one were not allowed to stay. For these evaluations, I meet with the U.S. citizen or qualifying relative. The report looks at the unique factors that would contribute to their distress, such as illness, disability, financial or academic hardship, or conditions in the home country that would affect the family.
VAWA Cases
The Violence Against Women Act allows certain survivors of abuse by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident family member to seek status on their own, without relying on the abuser. Despite the name, VAWA protections apply to people of any gender. A VAWA evaluation describes the psychological symptoms that are common for survivors of domestic violence and assesses patterns of abuse in the relationship. This includes LGBTQIA+ relationships and male survivors of emotional, physical or psychological abuse.
T Visa Cases
T visas are available to survivors of human trafficking, including sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Sex trafficking involves someone being forced, coerced or solicited into a commercial sex act, or anyone under 18 being involved in one. Labor trafficking involves someone being recruited or forced into work or services through debt bondage, slavery or involuntary servitude. A T visa evaluation documents the psychological impact of those experiences.
What Happens During an Immigration Psychological Evaluation?
Every person and every case is different, but here is the general process from first contact to final report.
1. A free consultation. You or your attorney reach out, and we talk briefly about your case. If it feels like a good fit, we choose a day and time for the evaluation. Evaluations can usually be scheduled within four to five days of first contact, including Sundays when needed.
2. Paperwork before the appointment. I email a questionnaire and an informed consent form to complete ahead of time. The questionnaire helps me understand your background so our time together can focus on what matters most for your case.
3. The evaluation appointment. Most evaluations happen in one meeting that lasts two to four hours. You can meet with me in person or by video, whichever is more comfortable and practical for you.
4. A draft report for review. About a week and a half to two weeks after the appointment, I send a rough draft. You and your attorney review it, and any corrections are made before it is finalized.
5. The final report. Once the draft is reviewed, I send the final report to you and your lawyer.
What Questions Will I Be Asked?
This is one of the most common worries, so it is worth talking about directly. During the evaluation, I will ask about your background, your family, your history, and the experiences that are at the center of your case. I will also ask how you have been feeling emotionally and physically, how you are sleeping, and how your life has been affected day to day.
Some of these questions may bring up painful memories. You are allowed to go at your own pace. You can take breaks, ask for water, or let me know when something is hard to talk about. My job is not to judge you or to catch you in a mistake. My job is to understand what you have lived through and describe it accurately and respectfully.
The most helpful thing you can do is be honest. If you do not remember something, it is okay to say so. Trauma often affects memory, and that is something I understand and can explain in the report.
How Long Does an Immigration Psychological Evaluation Take?
From first contact to final report, most evaluations take about two to three weeks. Here is a typical timeline:
- Days 1 to 5: consultation, scheduling and paperwork
- Evaluation day: one meeting, usually two to four hours
- About 10 to 14 days later: rough draft sent for you and your attorney to review
- After review: corrections made and the final report delivered
If your case has a filing deadline or court date coming up, tell me when you first reach out. A rush option is available when a report is needed sooner than two weeks.
Who Will See My Report?
Many people worry about where their story goes after the evaluation. The final report is sent to you and your attorney, and your attorney decides how it is used in your case, which usually means submitting it with your application or presenting it in immigration court. Before the evaluation, the informed consent form explains how your information will be handled, and you are always welcome to ask questions about it before you sign.
Reviewing the draft is also an important step for you. It is your chance to make sure names, dates and details are correct before anything is final.
Choosing an Immigration Evaluator
Your attorney may recommend someone, or you may be searching on your own. A few things are worth looking for in any evaluator:
- A current mental health license in the state where you are being evaluated
- Experience with your type of case, whether that is asylum, VAWA, a T visa or an extreme hardship waiver
- Clear pricing and timelines given to you up front, in writing
- Language access, so you can speak comfortably in your first language
- A trauma-informed approach, where you feel respected, unhurried and safe to take breaks
Most of all, you should feel like the person evaluating you actually cares about getting your story right.
Do I Need to Speak English for an Immigration Evaluation?
No. Translation services are available for consultations and evaluations, so you do not need to speak English to work with me. Being able to speak in the language you are most comfortable with helps you share your experiences more fully and accurately, which also makes for a stronger report. If you or your attorney need translation, just mention it when you first reach out.
How Much Does an Immigration Psychological Evaluation Cost?
An evaluation is $1,300. Half ($650) is due at the time of the evaluation appointment, and the remaining half is due after you have reviewed the draft and before the final report is sent. Payment plans are available, and the final report is released once the balance is paid in full.
If you need a report sooner than the usual two-week turnaround, a rush fee of $600 applies. A report is valid for one year from the meeting date. If an addendum is needed later, there is a flat fee of $200, which includes meeting time to discuss what has changed. After twelve months, a new assessment and report are needed. You can find the full details on my immigration evaluations page.
How to Prepare for Your Evaluation
You do not need to study or rehearse. A few simple steps can help the day go smoothly:
- Talk with your attorney first. Ask what type of case the evaluation is for and whether there is anything specific they want addressed.
- Complete the questionnaire ahead of time. Take your time with it. You can ask someone you trust to help you fill it out.
- Gather helpful documents. If you have medical records, letters, police reports or other documents your attorney thinks are relevant, share them before the appointment.
- Plan for a long appointment. Eat beforehand, bring water and plan for some quiet time afterward. Talking about hard experiences can be tiring.
- If meeting by video, find a private space where you can speak freely without being overheard.
Taking Care of Yourself After the Evaluation
It is common to feel emotionally drained, sad or unsettled after an evaluation, even when it goes well. Retelling difficult parts of your life can stir up feelings you have kept tucked away for a long time. Be gentle with yourself in the days afterward. Rest, eat something nourishing and spend time with people who make you feel safe.
Waiting on an immigration case can also bring months of uncertainty, and that kind of waiting is its own source of stress. If you find that anxiety, trouble sleeping or painful memories are affecting your daily life, ongoing support can help. I offer anxiety counseling and trauma-informed therapy in person in Arvada and Denver and through telehealth across Colorado.
Working With Attorneys
If you are an immigration attorney, I am glad to work with you. I aim to keep the process simple for your clients, communicate clearly about timelines, and deliver reports that address the specific questions your case needs answered. Reach out to discuss a case before referring, so we can make sure the evaluation is a good fit.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Whether you are an individual going through the immigration process or an attorney supporting a client, I am here to help make the evaluation as clear and comfortable as possible. Contact me to schedule a free consultation, and we can talk through your case and next steps together.
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