26 Jun Immigration Psychosocial Evaluations available in Illinois, Texas, and Louisiana
Learn About Immigration Psychological Evaluations From Issa Counseling Services
Immigrating to a new country is difficult. This is especially true when coming to the United States. On top of the isolation that comes from starting over in a new place, there are also complicated immigration laws that can impact people’s abilities to enter and remain in the country. There are many hurdles, and the process is stressful and overwhelming.
But you don’t have to navigate this process alone. If you require a psychological evaluation to help with your immigration case, Issa Counseling Services is here to support you. We are here to help by providing documentation that will help you continue the new life you’ve built in the U.S.
What Is A Psychological Evaluation?
A psychological evaluation is a report written up by a psychologist or mental health professional that provides immigration courts with information about an applicant’s mental and emotional state, and possible risks to their mental health if a removal should occur. The report provides potential diagnoses, including PTSD if it is present, as well as conclusions about future consequences to the mental health of the family. These reports are detailed so that the courts have a thorough understanding of the client’s current state and potential risks, and they can be incredibly helpful pieces of evidence that may make it easier to win your immigration case.
At Issa Counseling Services, I provide extreme hardship, and trauma evaluations (U Visa, T Visa, and Asylum). I explain below what those are.
Trauma Evaluations
The U nonimmigrant status, commonly known as the U visa, was created by the United States Congress with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (including the Battered Immigrant Women’s Protection Act) in October 2000. The primary purpose of the U visa is to provide protection and assistance to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse.
The U visa is available to individuals who have been victims of qualifying criminal activities, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking of noncitizens, and other serious crimes. To be eligible for a U visa, the individual must have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse as a result of the crime.
One of the key requirements for obtaining a U visa is that the individual must be helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. This requirement is intended to encourage victims to come forward and cooperate with authorities, thereby strengthening the ability of law enforcement agencies to combat these crimes.
By providing U nonimmigrant status, the legislation aims to enhance the collaboration between law enforcement agencies and crime victims, ensuring that victims receive the necessary support and protection while also assisting in the investigation and prosecution of the crimes. This provision helps both law enforcement agencies and victims of crimes by creating a framework that fosters cooperation and improves the overall response to these types of criminal activities.
Our Trauma Assessments provide a comprehensive analysis of the psychological effects and functional implications of the specific trauma experienced by our clients. The evaluation examines the client’s overall mental well-being and functioning, making a clear distinction between their pre- and post-trauma states, while also including relevant clinical diagnoses.
Numerous clients have faced a prolonged and intense series of traumatic events.
At Issa Counseling Services, we possess a profound understanding of the intricate nature of chronic stress exposure. Our expertise enables us to assess the cumulative psychological impact over time, as well as the specific changes associated with individual incidents within the broader narrative.
Asylum Cases:
To be eligible for political asylum, you must have a justifiable fear of experiencing persecution in your home country based on your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a social group. Proving that your fear is reasonable can be difficult, but with the proper guidance from your immigration attorney, you’ll have the resources you need.
It can be difficult to prove that returning to your country would create a significant danger for you. But if you prepare your own strong testimony, provide information about your physical and mental state from a doctor or a mental health professional, and can supply proof confirming the conditions in your country such as news or governmental reports about the political situation in your country, you can create a convincing and quality case.
Hardship Waivers
Hardship waivers are used when someone who is in danger of being deported has a relative who is a citizen of the United States who would experience hardship if the immigrant was deported. This could include a sick parent, a child, or someone who depends on the wages earned by the non-citizen relative. In this case, the person threatened with removal doesn’t submit the information; Courts need direct testimony from the US relative that removal of their family member could cause significant distress or harm. A mental health professional will evaluate the family member to provide proof that the separation would indeed cause extreme hardship and potential long-lasting trauma.
How Can An Evaluation Help My Case?
An evaluation can provide documentation describing the kinds of trauma you have experienced and how they have impacted you. It also provides logical conclusions, based on evidence, of how that trauma might affect your mental health in the future if the court was to take a removal action.
In the case of a Hardship Waiver, the evaluation can also assess the needs of the family member who would be left behind, to prove that the separation would likely cause significant emotional, mental, and physical harm.
An evaluation also puts another professional on the team of people helping you with your case. The therapist or psychologist is an objective source of information that can provide concrete evidence about the state of your mental health that will be valuable to the court.
Why Choose Issa Counseling Services
You have several choices for who performs your evaluation. We want to provide you with a safe and reassuring atmosphere for the process, and we offer:
- Experience
As an immigrant myself, I understand the pain and uncertainty you are experiencing while going through the immigration process. I have been working in the field as a trauma specialist for the last 11 years. My learned experience and expertise will be displayed in the evaluation which is extremely important for your immigration case. Issa Counseling Services, we have experience with people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and specialized training in diagnosis, trauma, and immigration law. In our reports, we include clinically relevant information that satisfies the requirements provided by USCIS. You will experience a high level of empathy while working with us.
- A Quick Turnaround
We provide quick turnaround times and convenient scheduling. Our appointments are available both during the week and on Saturdays, so you are not limited by your work schedule. We will process your report quickly and provide you with the documentation you need as quickly as possible.
- A Quality Investment Of Your Time And Money
I am trained and certified to offer psychological assessments for immigrants and have familiarized myself with each step of the process. My expertise will benefit you directly since having a qualified clinician perform your evaluation will add weight to your immigration case.
- Ease Of Communication:
I speak English, Urdu, Hindi, Memoni, and Punjabi. I will also work with you to find an interpreter if you are not able to communicate in the languages in which I am fluent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a psychological evaluation cost?
Trauma Evaluations (U Visa, T Visa, Asylum, VAWA petitions) -$900
Hardship Evaluations (I-601 & I-601a Waivers, Cancellation of Removal) - $900
Expedited request:
$300 for a 7-business-day rush report
$500 for a 3-business-day rush report
This covers the several hours necessary for the interview, any time spent talking to your attorney, and the writing of the official report.
What happens in an immigration psychological evaluation?
In an immigration psychological evaluation, you will first meet with me so I can perform all the necessary assessments. This usually takes several hours; the interview process helps me get as much information about you as possible so I can provide the court with a detailed report.
I may then confer with your attorney. Once I’ve spoken with everyone I need to contact I will write the report. This will contain all the necessary information about your mental health and how it connects to your immigration status. Once the report is finished, I will send it to the judge for your case.
Do you work with members of the LGBT+ community?
My office is a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. At Issa Counseling Services we work with many culturally diverse groups. I am happy to support anyone navigating the immigration process.
Do psychological evaluations actually help?
Yes, they help. There is research that states that over 80% of immigration cases that use a psychological evaluation are successful, whereas only 30% of people who don’t have one manage to win their cases.
If you are in need of a psychological evaluation to win your immigration case and remain in the US, and you live in Louisiana, Texas, or Illinois, please contact us at Issa Counseling Services. We will guide and support you through your evaluation, and will help you find the tools you need to succeed and keep the life you have worked so hard to build.
Begin Immigration Psychological Evaluations with Issa Counseling Services LLC
Call our Client Care Coordinator at 504-264-1318 or email info@issacounseling.com to reach out and learn more about current availability.
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a Free Consultation
Issa Counseling believes that the only way to know if we’re a good fit for you is for us to talk directly. Therefore, we always begin with a free 15-minute consultation where we can learn about your needs and answer your questions.
Begin Your
Immigration Psychological
Evaluations Journey
Together, we will develop a plan for your assessment. We will guide and support you through your evaluation. We understand the importance of excellent quality evaluation to help with your immigration case.
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