Immigration Psychological Evaluation FAQ

A psychosocial evaluation is a clinical assessment conducted by a licensed mental health professional. It documents the emotional and psychological hardship you are experiencing due to your family member's immigration situation. The evaluation becomes part of the evidence your attorney files with USCIS.

It depends on the case type. In hardship waiver cases (I-601A, I-601, I-212, and Cancellation of Removal), we evaluate the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident qualifying relative to document the hardship they would experience if their family member were removed. In VAWA, U visa, and T visa cases, we evaluate the survivor or victim directly, documenting the psychological impact of the abuse, crime, or trafficking they experienced.

Evaluations are conducted via secure video (Google Meet). Most evaluations are completed in a single session. Your evaluator will let you know what to expect based on your specific case.

English, Spanish, or both. Our licensed evaluators are fluent in both languages. No interpreter is needed.

$750 for a standard evaluation. Payment is due before the first session. This is separate from any fees you pay to your attorney or immigration office.

Yes, with one honest caveat: the evaluation is protected under HIPAA, but it is not therapy. The finished report goes to your attorney, not to the government. Your attorney reviews it and decides whether to file it with USCIS. We are impartial evaluators; your legal team controls how the report is used, and we never send it to immigration authorities on our own.

We are impartial forensic evaluators. We document what the interview and the standardized instruments actually show, and we do not promise a particular finding. The safeguard is the process: your attorney receives the finished report and decides whether it helps your case before anything is filed. Whether a specific finding carries legal risk is a question for your attorney, not for us.

We do not send anything to immigration authorities on our own. The report is prepared for your case and delivered to your attorney, who controls what is filed and what is not. Once evidence is filed, how it is weighed is a legal question for your attorney; we do not give legal advice.

The interview covers the history that is relevant to the hardship or harm in your case, not your entire life story. You set the pace and can pause at any point. Honest, complete answers make the report accurate, and no one will push you through details that have nothing to do with your case.

Typically, yes. The evaluation is part of your immigration legal process. Your attorney or immigration office will refer you to us. However, you can contact us directly with questions.

No. This is a forensic evaluation, not therapy. We are impartial clinical evaluators. We document your psychological state for the legal record. If you need therapy, we can recommend resources.

Any licensed mental health clinician can perform an immigration psychological evaluation, including clinical social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists. What carries weight with USCIS is the report and the method, not the specific license. At Kipu Terra a Licensed Master Social Worker conducts every evaluation and an independently licensed Clinical Social Worker reviews and co-signs it.