Immigration
Evaluations
I provide trauma-informed, clinically rigorous psychological immigration evaluations for VAWA, Extreme Hardship Waivers (I-601/I-601A), Asylum, and U/T Visas. My assessment approach is grounded in evidence-based interviewing, differential diagnosis, functional-impairment analysis, and a deep understanding of trauma and chronic stress.
My reports are comprehensive, attorney-collaborative, and aligned with USCIS and court standards. Evaluations include clinical interviewing, validated trauma and symptom measures when indicated, detailed psychosocial formulations, and clear documentation of hardship and psychological impact. I am bilingual in English and Spanish and offer expedited evaluations when needed.
Experience:
I have been conducting clinical assessments since 2020 and practicing independently as a licensed clinical social worker since 2023. Before licensure, I worked directly with immigrant communities, beginning in Arizona shortly after the introduction of SB 1070 in 2010.
In my clinical practice, I provide therapy primarily to first-generation and immigrant individuals and families in both English and Spanish. My work centers on trauma recovery, intergenerational healing, and the psychological impact of migration and systemic oppression.
Over the past decade, I have specialized in working with survivors of labor and commercial sexual exploitation through direct service, training, and systems-change initiatives. At WestCoast Children’s Clinic, I deliver and support the development of the CSE-IT (Commercial Sexual Exploitation–Identification Tool) training curriculum and contribute to the creation of a complementary labor-trafficking identification tool.
This combined experience informs a trauma-informed, survivor-centered approach to immigration evaluations. Each assessment is conducted with clinical rigor and deep cultural humility, integrating an understanding of trauma, displacement, family separation, and community violence to accurately capture psychological hardship and resilience.
Want to learn more?
FAQs
-
A psychological evaluation supports your immigration case by providing credible documentation of trauma, hardship, mental health symptoms, and the emotional impact of separation or persecution. The evaluation includes:
A trauma-informed assessment
Professional documentation of symptoms
A detailed narrative of your experiences
A clinical opinion written specifically for immigration cases
Attorneys frequently tell clients that a strong immigration psychological evaluation can increase the likelihood of success because it provides evidence that USCIS officers and judges rely on when reviewing applications.
-
Typically:
Two 60–90 minute clinical interviews
Review of relevant history, symptoms, and lived experience
Discussion of how the situation has affected your mental health
Any needed questionnaires
Coordination with your attorney
Delivery of a 10–15 page legal-ready report
-
Yes. Your information is private and only shared with your consent, typically with your attorney.
-
You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.
-
Reports are usually completed within 2–3 weeks. Expedited options may be available.
-
Fees vary by case type but typically range between $1000–$1,800, depending on complexity and urgency. Payment plans are available.
-
VAWA: Survivor of domestic violence by a U.S. citizen/LPR spouse, parent, or child
U Visa: Survivor of a crime & cooperated with law enforcement
T Visa: Survivor of trafficking
Asylum: Fear returning to home country due to persecution
Hardship: U.S. citizen/LPR would experience extreme hardship if you were deported
-
VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) allows certain survivors of abuse to apply for lawful status without relying on their abuser to petition for them.
A VAWA psychological evaluation helps:
Document the emotional and psychological impact of domestic violence, emotional abuse, coercive control, or extreme cruelty
Show how the abuse has affected your mental health, safety, and functioning
Provide a clinical narrative that supports the credibility of your lived experience
Who qualifies?
Spouses, children, or parents of U.S. citizens or permanent residents who experienced abuse
Why do attorneys request it?
It strengthens the case by providing professional documentation of trauma and its long-term effects. -
These waivers allow someone to remain in or return to the U.S. if removing them from the country would cause extreme hardship to a qualifying relative.
A psychological hardship evaluation examines:
The emotional, financial, medical, or psychological hardship a U.S. citizen/LPR relative would face if the applicant were forced to leave
How family separation or relocation would affect the family’s mental health
Cultural, economic, or medical barriers the family might face in the applicant’s home country
Who qualifies?
Applicants with immigration issues that require demonstrating “extreme hardship” to their spouse, parent, or sometimes child who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Why do attorneys request this evaluation?
Because psychological hardship—especially related to trauma, medical needs, caregiving, or mental health diagnosis—is often central to demonstrating “extreme” hardship. -
A T Visa is for survivors of human trafficking, including:
labor trafficking
sex trafficking
coercion, fraud, or force used to control a person’s labor, movement, or sexual activity
A T Visa psychological evaluation documents:
Trauma symptoms related to trafficking
Coercion, threats, force, or deception used to control the survivor
How psychological harm impacts daily life, decision-making, trust, and functioning
Why do attorneys request this evaluation?
It helps demonstrate the severity of trauma, the impact on the survivor’s mental health, and why continued presence in the U.S. is beneficial for healing and stability. -
A U Visa is for survivors of certain crimes who:
Experienced significant harm, and
Were helpful or are willing to be helpful to law enforcement.
A U Visa psychological evaluation helps document:
The emotional and psychological impact of the crime
Current symptoms such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear, sleep issues, hypervigilance
How the incident continues to affect the person’s safety, daily functioning, and relationships
Why is this helpful?
It provides clinical documentation of the harm caused, which is required to demonstrate the “substantial physical or mental abuse” criterion.
-
Asylum is available for people who fear returning to their home country due to persecution related to:
race
religion
nationality
political opinion
membership in a particular social group (including LGBTQIA+, gender-based harm, survivors of trafficking, etc.)
A psychological asylum evaluation documents:
Trauma symptoms related to persecution, violence, war, political harm, or threats
PTSD, anxiety, depression, or dissociative symptoms
Why returning to your home country would be unsafe
How trauma affects memory, emotions, and functioning (crucial for credibility in asylum cases)
Why do attorneys request this evaluation?
Because courts understand trauma impacts memory and narrative consistency. A clinical evaluation helps contextualize symptoms and support the credibility of your story.
