What is an Immigration Evaluation?
It is a mental health assessment conducted by a licensed mental health professional. Immigration evaluations are a powerful piece of evidence used to help immigration courts determine whether an individual can remain lawfully in the United States.
Why choose me?
For 20 plus years, I’ve work to help support and empower under-served and marginalized groups. Now more than ever, my work with people who are victimized by cultural/systemic oppression and historical/intergenerational trauma has increased. I have completed hundreds of well-crafted biopsychosocial assessments in a variety of settings including public and private mental health settings, school social work, medical social work, developmental disabilities, substance use, homelessness, behavioral health, hospice, social security determination, mitigation specialist work in capital punishment defense cases and now immigration evaluations.
My mental health assessments are informed by cultural/historical and intergenerational trauma and systems theory. Intergenerational trauma can be transferred from the first generation of trauma survivors to the second and further generations of offspring of the survivors via complex post traumatic stress mechanisms. Systems theory explains human behavior as the intersection of the influences of multiple interrelated systems. I recognize the importance of the person-in-environment and how the biological, psychological, familial, ecological and socio-cultural factors impact and contribute to human development and functioning. Another important element to developing a thorough immigration evaluation include obtaining relevant information from the multi-disciplinary team members (client, family members, and attorney) as
Here are the types of Immigration Evaluation and Letters of Support offered:
1. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is one of the first options for immigrants. This act was designed to help immigrants who are victims of domestic violence. The immigration law was created to prevent United States citizens from abusing their spouses and threatening deportation if the spouse tried to get help. Immigrants who are eligible under the act can get a green card without needing their spouse. According to the act, the spouse must have entered their marriage in good faith. They must be married to a permanent resident or a United States citizen. He or she must be a victim of abuse or mental cruelty. Social workers help the process along by being there to gather evidence, find shelter records and get medical evaluations.
2. The U-Visa
While the U-Visa is similar to VAWA, it works for more than just victims of domestic abuse. The U-Visa covers any immigrant who was a victim of crimes. This law aims to encourage victims to report crimes and work with law enforcement without being afraid of deportation. Social workers play an important role in this process because they advocate on behalf of their client and help the victim to gather evidence.
3. The T-Visa
T nonimmigrant status is a temporary immigration benefit that enables certain victims of a severe form of human trafficking to remain in the United States for up to 4 years if they have assisted law enforcement in an investigation or prosecution of human trafficking.
Sex trafficking: When someone recruits, harbors, transports, provides, solicits, patronizes, or obtains a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act, where the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or the person being induced to perform such act is under 18 years of age; or
Labor trafficking: When someone recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
4. Extreme Hardship Waiver
Extreme hardship is used to apply for a 601 waiver and the applicant must establish that his or her deportation or removal would result in extreme hardship to a parent or spouse who is a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident. Social Workers have extensive training in identifying the person-in-environment and work hard to identify how the health (mental), financial, education, social support and other personal considerations impact the U.S citizen if their qualifying family member is deported.
Where will the evaluation take place?
Great news! The evaluation can be done from the comfort of your home. The convenience of doing it virtually allows for family members and interpreters to be present as needed.
How long will it take?
Because of the detail required to complete the evaluation, you may be required 2 -3 clinical interviews to obtain essential and relevant details about your background and present functioning. This may also include meeting with family members and other important people in your life. Expect a 7 day turn around time for your completed evaluation.
Do you have interpreters?
You may bring an adult interpreter to the assessment or we can arrange to have one for you.
How much will it cost?
A deposit is required to secure your appointment and to begin the process. Our immigration evaluations are $900.
When can we begin?
Get in touch with me to schedule your assessment today!