The U.S. Immigration process can be stressful, complicated and dramatically increase anxiety and depression surrounding insecure future of prospective immigrants. Being an immigrant myself, I know all too well how frustrating this process can be.
It’s not uncommon for Immigration Attorneys to ask their clients to obtain psychological evaluations. An evaluation may provide additional support for your immigration case if it can demonstrate the suffering you’ve experienced during an extended immigration processing period.
A psychological immigration evaluation is an assessment conducted by a licensed mental health professional to support your immigration journey. These evaluations help to document psychological factors that may be relevant to the immigration process.
The assessment usually includes:
- Trauma and Hardship Evaluation: Often used in asylum cases, it assesses whether the individual has experienced past trauma or could face extreme hardship if deported. This may include evaluating the effects of political persecution, domestic violence, gang violence, or other forms of mental or physical trauma.
- Extreme Hardship Evaluation: In cases where an individual is facing imminent deportation or separation from their family, this evaluation assesses the emotional and psychological impact on both the individual and their family members, particularly among relatives who are U.S. citizens and would significantly suffer if separated.
- Mental Health Evaluation for VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) Cases: This assessment is used when an immigrant has been a victim of domestic violence and documents the physical and psychological effects of abuse to support their case for immigration relief.
- U Visa or T Visa Cases: These evaluations are for victims of crimes or human trafficking who are currently cooperating with law enforcement. In this case, the psychological evaluation documents the emotional or mental toll of their experiences.
The way it works: First, I gather the information through face-to-face interviews, psychological testing and a review of relevant documents. The findings are then summarized in a report which the attorney can use to support the legal argument for relief.
With almost two decades of experience working with clients with a history of domestic violence, childhood physical and sexual abuse, or a history of trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), I am uniquely qualified to provide you with a comprehensive assessment of your current mental health state. I will collaborate with your attorney to ensure the accurate representation of the details of your case and your personal history.
Currently I provide evaluations for hardship (for those seeking asylum) and VAWA cases.
Please email me at galina@followyourheartcounseling.com, or text me at (281) 826-4380 to discuss my initial consultation and fees.
In addition to English, I am fluent in Russian language.