For individuals
Immigration Evaluations
So you were told you need an evaluation but you’re unsure how to proceed…
You might be seeking asylum in the United States. Or worried about your loved ones if you were to leave this country. Perhaps you have experienced significant trauma. Or fear that trauma might happen if you return to your home country. The legal process might feel like it’s taking forever. It’s hard to sleep with so much uncertainty. It’s hard to concentrate. You might not have many people you can talk to about this or who will understand. You may have never even gone to therapy before. You might be wondering – is this process ever going to end?
Will I my partner my child my family be okay?
Whether it’s you, your family member, child, partner, or immigration attorney looking for an immigration evaluation, you’ve come to the right place. You need a good report and you need it fast. We can get you what you need. Come to us for trustworthy, detailed reports that can be completed quickly with as little stress as possible.
As a practice that specializes in helping people address trauma and loss, we know exactly how important this is to you. And how stressful the process can be.
Polaris Psychology offers immigration evaluations tailored to your unique needs and your unique situation to best support your immigration case.
What is an immigration evaluation?
An immigration evaluation, also referred to as a psychological evaluation for immigration cases, is a thorough assessment designed to understand your individual circumstances and determine your eligibility for immigration relief. Through friendly conversations, questionnaires, and a careful review of your circumstances, we aim to gather information about the challenges you face. Our goal is to support your case by providing insights into the difficulties you’ve encountered, helping you on your journey towards a better future.
Though we can’t guarantee relief from deportation or a waiver of immigration requirements, our immigration evaluations hold significant value as they provide crucial evidence to support an applicant’s case, which immigration authorities carefully consider in their decision-making process.
Why do I need one?
Chances are, your attorney or legal representative has suggested that you pursue an immigration evaluation. In hardship or asylum cases, a caring and thorough psychological evaluation is required to truly understand your unique situation and needs. By assessing your mental well-being and emotional experiences, the evaluation helps immigration authorities grasp the challenges you’ve faced or the fears you carry. It provides vital evidence to support your case, ensuring that your hardships or fears are recognized and considered. This evaluation process embraces your well-being and aims to make fair decisions that honor your experiences while also addressing your mental health needs throughout your immigration journey.
What if I’ve never talked to anyone about this?
We understand that discussing the events that forced you to flee your country can be challenging. Rest assured that we maintain the strictest confidentiality regarding everything you share with us. You have complete control over the pace of the evaluation, and you are under no obligation to answer any questions you’re uncomfortable with. Our primary focus is to document your experiences and assess their impact on your emotional and psychological well-being. With our extensive experience in supporting trauma survivors, our utmost priority is to create a safe and empathetic environment where you feel understood and accepted. You should never feel the need to explain your feelings or be embarrassed about sharing your story with us.
You need a good report and you need it fast.
We can get you what you need
Come to us for trustworthy, detailed reports that can be completed quickly with as little stress as possible.
Immigration Evaluation Services
Asylum
A psychological evaluation for asylum cases focuses on understanding the individual’s experiences, hardships, and trauma that led them to seek asylum from their home country. These evaluations prioritize assessing the impact of these events on the individual’s emotional and psychological well-being. The goal of the evaluation is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the individual’s mental health and the significant impact that their past experiences have had on their overall well-being.
Hardship Waivers (I-601 or I-601A)
A psychological evaluation is crucial in extreme hardship waiver (I-601 or I-601A) or cancellation of removal cases. It can serve as powerful evidence, should there be significant suffering that a relative would face if separated from the applicant or compelled to relocate to another country to be with them. The evaluation sheds light on the emotional and psychological impact, and any profound hardship experienced by those involved.
T-Visa
In T-visa cases, evaluations focus on assessing the psychological and emotional impacts experienced by individuals who have been victims of human trafficking. These evaluations aim to understand the emotional and psychological consequences of the trafficking experience.
U-Visa
Psychological evaluations for U-Visa cases focus on assessing the psychological impact of a qualifying crime against an individual.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
Psychological evaluations for VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) cases place emphasis on understanding the impact of domestic violence or abuse on the individual’s mental health and well-being. The psychological evaluation provides valuable insights into the individual’s psychological state, any emotional suffering endured due to domestic violence, and what protection and support is needed.
Why Choose Polaris Psychology for Your Psychological Immigration Evaluation?
Choosing the right provider for your psychological evaluation is critical. At Polaris Psychology, we offer:
By choosing Polaris Psychology, you are opting for a provider with unparalleled expertise, flexibility, and a commitment to understanding your unique story. We are here to support you through every step of the evaluation process, helping you build a strong foundation for your asylum application.
What to Expect During Your Psychological Immigration Evaluation
At Polaris Psychology, we prioritize creating a compassionate environment where you can share your story. Here’s what the evaluation process typically involves:
Intake Paperwork: To initiate the evaluation, you’ll complete the necessary paperwork to provide us with background information.
Initial Intake Session (1-2 Hours via Video Telehealth): During the first session, you will meet with a licensed clinical psychologist. We conduct an in-depth clinical interview to understand your history, relationships, mental health, and the stressors related to your immigration status. We may administer standardized questionnaires or tests to further assess your mental health.
Supplemental Clinical Interviews (As Needed, 0 to 2 Meetings via Video Telehealth): Additional meetings may be scheduled based on the complexity of your case to gather further information or clarify any issues.
Draft Report Delivery: Within three weeks of the final interview, we deliver a draft of the evaluation report for review. In complex cases, this may take longer.
Report Finalization: After incorporating any necessary edits, we finalize the report within 1 to 3 business days and send it to you and your attorney.
Pricing and Payment
At Polaris Psychology, we accept all major credit cards, debit cards, and FSA/HSA accounts for payment. While we do not accept insurance, we can provide a “superbill” for you to submit to your insurance provider for potential reimbursement.
Evaluation Fee
$1,528
Due in full at the first intake session. We accept credit cards, debit cards, FSA/HSA, and, in some cases, cash or cashier's checks.
Expedited Evaluation
+ $508
For a faster turnaround (within two weeks), an additional $508 expedited fee applies
Addenda
$250/hour
Should you need an update to your initial report, we can provide this for an additional fee of $250 per hour.
Please contact us if you have any questions about payment options. We are committed to making the process as smooth and transparent as possible, so you can focus on your application.
Confidentiality and Communication
Your evaluation is confidential and protected by doctor-patient confidentiality. If you wish for us to communicate with your attorney, you will need to sign a release of information form, which will allow us to share your evaluation report once it’s completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled answers to some common questions about our psychological immigration evaluations. If you need more information or have specific concerns, feel free to reach out to us directly.
Q: What happens during the psychological evaluation?
A: During the evaluation, you will meet with a licensed psychologist who will conduct an in-depth interview to understand your history and experiences. We use evidence-based assessment tools to evaluate your mental health and provide a detailed report for your application.
Q: How much does the psychological evaluation cost?
A: The evaluation fee is $1,528, due in full at the first intake session. If you need an expedited evaluation which needs to be completed within two weeks, an additional $508 fee applies, totaling $2,036.
Q: How long before the report is ready?
A: Typically, the report is finalized within 4 weeks after our final meeting. However, for cases that urgently require a faster processing time, we offer expedited services with an additional $508 expeditated fee, ensuring completion of the report within two weeks after our final meeting.
Q: Is the psychological evaluation confidential?
A: Yes, your evaluation is completely confidential. The information you share with us will be used solely for preparing your report, which you can choose to include in your immigration case.
Q: Do I need to work with an immigration attorney?
Yes, a psychological evaluation is an important part of your immigration application, but it is not a replacement for legal advice. You should consult with an immigration attorney to guide you through the legal process and ensure that all aspects of your case are properly addressed.
Q: What if I don't speak English?
If English is not an option, we work with professional medical interpreters during the interview portion of the evaluation. This ensures that you can comfortably communicate in your native language. While the final evaluation report is provided in English, translators are available to assist with the interview.
We work with interpreters in over 70 languages, including: Amharic, Arabic, Assamese, Bengali, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Korean, Urdu, Hausa, Mandarin, Punjabi, Pashto, Tamil, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese, Spanish, Swahili, and many more.
Q: Where do you offer immigration evaluations?
We serve the following U.S. States and Territories:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
For a visual representation of our service areas, please see the map below.
Frequently Asked Questions for Immigration Attorneys
Do you have experience with immigrants and asylum seekers?
Yes, I have extensive experience working with a variety of different individuals, including immigrants and asylum seekers. As a clinical psychologist with generalist training and a specialty with treating trauma and loss, I have a wide range of experience treating individuals across the lifespan (children to elderly). Many of these individuals are immigrants, from immigrant families, asylum seekers, and English may not be their first language.
Can you also see clients for therapy in addition to an evaluation?
Unfortunately, though we would very much like to support clients in this way, in order to maintain objectivity, it is important that we remain solely as evaluators to our immigration evaluation clients. Not only is this important and aligns with our ethical code as clinical psychologists, but allows us to offer the most objective evaluation of the individual.
Can we see the report draft prior to it being finalized?
Yes, of course! We will send you and the client a draft prior to the report being finalized.
How quickly can you see a client? How quickly can you provide a report after seeing a client? Do you provide expedited services?
We can see clients within one-to-two weeks of inquiry. We can provide a report within four weeks of seeing the client. We do provide expedited services of having a completed report within two weeks or less of having seen the client. Expedited services are at a nominal additional fee.
Ready to Begin? Schedule Your Immigration Evaluation Consult Today.
Seeking asylum is an incredibly challenging process, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Simply use the calendar below to choose a time that works for you. Once booked, you’ll be set up for a direct consultation with one of our licensed psychologists.
