Immigration Psychological Evaluation Services

At Luna Haven Services, I provide thorough, trauma-informed psychological evaluations to support immigration cases. Each evaluation is tailored to your unique story and is completed with care, compassion, and cultural understanding.

For Attorney & Legal Use:

Immigration psychological evaluations are forensic mental health assessments conducted specifically for immigration proceedings. These evaluations are not therapy and do not establish an ongoing treatment relationship. Each assessment is designed to address relevant legal standards clinically and document the nexus between trauma and current psychological functioning.

What to Expect From an Evaluation:

  • Comprehensive clinical interview
    We will meet for one or more in-depth interviews (usually 1–3 sessions) to learn about your background, mental health symptoms, family history, and the events related to your immigration case.

  • Mental health assessment
    I assess for symptoms of conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other emotional or behavioral impacts related to trauma, abuse, or difficult life circumstances.

  • Review of relevant history
    When appropriate, I review documents such as medical/mental health records, police reports, or legal documents that help support your case (if you choose to provide them).

  • Collaboration with your attorney
    With your written consent, I can communicate with your attorney to clarify referral questions and ensure the evaluation addresses what is most helpful for your case.

  • Detailed written report
    After our sessions, I prepare a clear, structured report that explains my clinical findings, how your mental health has been affected, and how this relates to the legal questions in your case.

 

  • VAWA evaluations are for individuals who have experienced abuse by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or child and are seeking immigration protection.

    In a VAWA evaluation, we focus on:

    • The history of emotional, physical, sexual, or financial abuse

    • How the abuse has affected your mental health and daily functioning

    • The impact of fear, control, and isolation on your well-being

    • Your strengths, resilience, and efforts to seek safety

    The report helps document the psychological effects of the abuse and supports your attorney in explaining the severity and impact of your experiences.

  • U Visa evaluations are for individuals who have been victims of certain qualifying crimes (such as domestic violence, assault, sexual abuse, trafficking, etc.) and who have cooperated or are willing to cooperate with law enforcement.

    In a U Visa evaluation, we explore:

    • The crime(s) you experienced and how they occurred

    • Emotional and psychological effects (for example, anxiety, fear, nightmares, hypervigilance, or depression)

    • How these experiences affect your relationships, work, school, and daily life

    • Your coping strategies and supports

    The report documents the emotional and psychological harm caused by the crime and how it continues to affect you.

  • Extreme Hardship evaluations are usually requested when a family member may have to leave the United States or be separated from a qualifying relative (such as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or child).

    In a hardship evaluation, we focus on:

    • The emotional and psychological impact that separation or relocation would have on you and/or your qualifying relative

    • Mental health needs, medical conditions, or special circumstances (for example, caregiving responsibilities, disabilities, or lack of support in another country)

    • Cultural, financial, educational, and safety factors that would increase hardship if the waiver is not granted

    The report helps demonstrate the severity of emotional and psychological hardship that would occur without the waiver.

  • Cancellation of Removal evaluations are for individuals who are in removal (deportation) proceedings and meet specific legal criteria, often including exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a qualifying relative.

    In these evaluations, we assess:

    • The emotional and psychological impact on you and your qualifying relatives if you were removed from the United States

    • Mental health conditions, developmental needs, school and behavioral concerns (especially for children)

    • Family stability, support systems, community ties, and cultural factors

    • How relocation or separation would affect day-to-day functioning and long-term well-being

    The report provides a detailed picture of the potential psychological and emotional consequences of removal.

  • A T-Visa is a form of immigration relief for individuals who have survived human trafficking, including both labor trafficking and sex trafficking. To qualify, a person must show that they experienced force, fraud, or coercion and are cooperating with law enforcement when safe and appropriate.

    During a T-Visa psychological evaluation, I assess:

    • The client’s trafficking history and circumstances

    • Psychological symptoms related to trauma, coercion, and exploitation

    • The impact of trafficking on daily functioning, safety, and stability

    • Barriers to returning to their home country

    • The client’s resilience, strengths, and recovery needs

  • Asylum evaluations are requested when an individual is seeking protection in the United States due to a well-founded fear of persecution or fear based on one or more of the following: race, religion, nationality, political option, or membership in a particular social group.

    The purpose of an asylum psychological evaluation is to:

    • Document the psychological impact of past persecution, trauma, or harm

    • Assess current mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, or trauma-related distress

    • Provide clinical context for how an individual’s experiences affect their daily functioning

    • Offer professional findings that may help the court understand the emotional and psychological consequences of the applicant’s experiences

    The evaluation does not determine asylum eligibility, but rather provides clinical documentation that may support the legal claim.