MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS FOR IMMIGRATION CASES

Offering Bilingual (Spanish/English) Mental Health Evaluations for Children, Adolescents, Adults, and Families for use in the following Immigration Cases:

· Extreme Hardship Waivers

· Cancellation of Removal

· VAWA

· U-visas

· T-visas

· Asylum

Services Include: 

• Offering FREE 30 minute consultations
• Evaluation Fee:  $1,200  (includes: two-three sessions of assessment lasting approximately 90-120 minutes depending on the type of case, consultation with attorney or paralegal, and a detailed report)
• Expedited Evaluation: $300 additional fee.
• Court Testimony: additional fee starting at $350
• Payment Plans and  Reduced Rates available upon request.
• Appointments: Weekday and Weekend via Telehealth in the state of California and In-person appointments in Porter Ranch, CA. 

A mental health evaluation for immigration cases is a psychological assessment conducted by a licensed mental health professional to evaluate the mental health of an individual applying for immigration benefits. These evaluations are often used in various immigration processes (Asylum, VAWA Visa, T-Visa, U-Visa, Extreme Hardship Waiver, and Cancellation of Removal) to access the psychological impact of past trauma experienced by victims of crimes (e.g., persecution, domestic violence , human trafficking, abuse, etc.), or in process of other humanitarian immigration proceedings (e.g., condition warranting a waiver or special consideration under immigration law).

The evaluation typically includes:

• A Psychological Interview: The mental health professional will interview the individual, ask about their personal history, trauma experience, mental health symptoms, health, emotional, spiritual, physical, and financial impact of deportation.
• A Comprehensive Psychological Report and Recommendations: The mental health professional will write a detailed report that outlines the findings of the interviews, client reports, and results of standardized measures administered. The report may also include treatment recommendations, such as mental health therapy.

Each immigration case is unique. The licensed mental health provider and the immigration lawyer or paralegal on the case will collaborate to determine what type of report best represents the applicant’s case.

Types of cases:

Asylum is a form of international protection granted to individuals who have fled their home country due to fear of persecution. In the United States, asylum is available to those who meet specific criteria and can demonstrate that they have a well-founded fear of persecution based on one or more of the following grounds: Race, Religion, Nationality, Membership in a particular social group, or Political opinion. If granted asylum, individuals can remain in the U.S., apply for work authorization, and eventually apply for lawful permanent resident status (a green card) after one year.

VAWA Visa, T-Visa, and U-Visa are all immigration relief options available to noncitizen individuals who have been victims of certain crimes, including domestic violence, human trafficking, and other abuse (e.g., assault, kidnapping, extortion, etc.). These visas allow eligible individuals to seek safety and legal status in the U.S. while also helping law enforcement investigate and prosecute crimes.

Extreme Hardship Waiver is a provision within U.S. immigration law that allows noncitizens to apply for a waiver (forgiveness) of certain immigration violations, such as unlawful presence, to avoid being separated from their U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) family members.

Cancellation of Removal is a form of relief from deportation (removal) for certain noncitizens who are in removal proceedings before an immigration court. If granted, it allows the individual to remain in the U.S. and obtain lawful permanent resident status (a green card). There are two main types of cancellation of removal: one for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and one for non-permanent residents.

Disclaimer:  Please note that current or previous therapy clients will be referred to an outside psychotherapist to complete the evaluation. As the evaluator, I am an impartial, objective assessor, and have no vested interest in the outcome of each individualized immigration case. Per the recommendations of the American Psychological Association (APA), I do not provide therapeutic services to clients for whom I have completed a mental health evaluation for use in immigration case purposes. Should psychotherapy services be recommended, the client will be provided with referrals to qualified clinicians.