Forensic Evaluations for Immigration Cases
Asylum Cases:
Purpose: To document the psychological impact of past persecution, trauma, or the well-founded fear of future persecution in the individual's country of origin.
How it can impact the case: Evaluations can identify and assess mental health conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, providing objective evidence of the harm the individual has suffered. This evidence can strengthen the credibility of their asylum claim by illustrating the psychological consequences of the experiences they describe.
U Visas (Victims of Crime)
Purpose: To demonstrate the substantial physical or mental abuse suffered as a result of being a victim of certain qualifying crimes.
How it can impact the case: A psychological evaluation can detail the emotional and psychological trauma experienced due to the crime, including symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other related mental health issues. This documentation helps to establish the significant impact of the crime on the applicant's well-being, a key requirement for U visa eligibility.
T Visas (Victims of Human Trafficking)
Purpose: To assess the psychological impact of human trafficking on the individual.
How it can impact the case: The evaluation can document the trauma and emotional distress resulting from the trafficking experience, providing crucial evidence to support the T visa application. It can highlight the presence of mental health conditions and the long-term psychological consequences of exploitation.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petitions
Purpose: To provide evidence of the psychological impact of domestic violence, abuse, or extreme cruelty perpetrated by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or parent.
How it can impact the case: Psychological evaluations in VAWA cases can document the emotional and mental health consequences of the abuse, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. This evidence helps to establish the credibility of the abuse and its significant impact on the victim's well-being, supporting their petition for lawful permanent resident status.
Extreme Hardship Waivers (I-601 & I-601A)
Purpose: To demonstrate the extreme hardship that a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative (spouse, parent, or child) would face if the applicant were denied admission or deported.
How it helps: The evaluation can assess the psychological distress and potential mental health deterioration that the U.S. relative would experience due to the applicant's removal. This might include documenting conditions like anxiety, depression, or separation anxiety disorder in the relative, highlighting the significant emotional impact of family separation.
Cancellation of Removal
Purpose: In some cancellation of removal cases, particularly those based on hardship to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) relative, a psychological evaluation can be used to demonstrate the extreme emotional distress the relative would suffer if the applicant were deported.
How it helps: This type of evaluation helps document the mental health conditions of the US citizen or LPR relative, as well as the impact the absence of the respondent would have on the US Citizen/LPR. In some cases, the impact of going to the respondent’s country of origin can also be assessed.
N-648 (Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions)
Purpose: To provide evidence of a physical or mental disability that prevents an applicant for U.S. citizenship from meeting the English language and/or civics requirements for naturalization.
How it helps: A psychological evaluation conducted by a clinical psychologist can document cognitive impairments, learning disabilities, or mental health conditions that significantly impact the applicant's ability to learn and demonstrate knowledge of English and civics.
Immigration Bond Hearings
Purpose: To assess an individual's mental health in relation to their risk to the community and their likelihood of appearing for future court proceedings.
How it helps: A psychological evaluation can provide information about an individual's stability, the presence of mental health conditions that might affect behavior or judgment, and overall risk assessment, which can influence the decision regarding the granting of an immigration bond.