“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” ― Dolores Huerta
A Mental Health Evaluation adds a tremendous value to an immigration case. I conduct comprehensive mental health evaluations in English and/or Spanish, and complete reports to support cases for the following:
- Extreme Hardship (I-601 and I-601A): Extreme Hardship, in the context of the I-601 and I-601A waivers, is a legal concept that aims to prevent the separation of families facing deportation or inadmissibility in the United States. It recognizes that certain individuals have family members, such as a spouse or parent who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, who would suffer significant and exceptional hardship if the person facing deportation is removed from the country or denied entry. This hardship goes beyond the usual difficulties experienced in such situations.
- VAWA: The VAWA waiver, also known as the Violence Against Women Act waiver, is a legal provision in the United States that helps protect victims of domestic violence who are facing immigration challenges. It provides a way for certain abused immigrants, both men and women, to seek relief and legal status independently of their abusers.
- Asylum: The asylum waiver is a legal provision that applies to individuals seeking protection in the United States through the asylum process. When someone applies for asylum, they are asking the U.S. government to grant them refugee status due to a fear of persecution in their home country.
- SIJS: The Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) waiver is a legal provision that helps certain immigrant children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment. SIJS is a pathway to obtain lawful permanent residency (a green card) for children who cannot be reunited with their parents due to abuse or similar reasons.
- U Visa: The U visa is a special type of visa available to individuals who have suffered substantial physical or emotional abuse as a result of certain crimes and who cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of those crimes.
- T Visa: The T visa is a special visa that allows victims of trafficking to stay in the United States and assist law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting the traffickers.
- Cancellation of Removal: The cancellation of removal waiver is a legal provision that helps certain individuals who are facing deportation proceedings in the United States. It provides a way for them to ask the government to cancel their removal and allow them to stay in the country legally. To be eligible for the waiver, an individual must demonstrate that they have been living in the United States for a specific period of time (usually at least 10 years), have good moral character, and that their removal would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to their U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, parent, or child.
Immigration Mental Health Evaluation Process
The client interview is conducted over the course of two 45 minute sessions. If there are multiple children in the family, each child will be assessed individually during separate clinical interviews.
The Immigration Mental Health Evaluation detailed report is approximately 10-15 pages long and may include:
- Clinical interviews
- Assessment Scales
- Family History
- Education
- Employment History
- Trauma History
- Medical/Psychiatric Conditions
- Behavioral Observations
- Mental Status Exam
- Current Psychological Symptoms
- DSM-5 Diagnosis
- Impact of Separation on Children
- Scientific research findings related to the case
- Negative impact that the denial of the waiver may have
- Recommendations
FEE
The fee for an Immigration Mental Health Evaluation is $1700. This fee includes 2 clinical interviews and a comprehensive report. There is an additional fee of $300 per additional child interviewed and added to a report.
A copy of the Immigration Mental Health Evaluation is sent to your attorney. If your attorney requests any updates, an additional fee may apply.
PAYMENT PLAN OPTION
$850 is due at the first clinical interview appointment. The Immigration Mental Health Evaluation report will not be started until the remaining amount due is paid in full. Once full payment in received, please allow 3 weeks for the completion of the Immigration Evaluation report.
If you or someone you know is in need of an Immigration Mental health Evaluation, please reach out for a FREE consultation.