How long does an immigration psychological evaluation take, and when should you order it?
Standard report delivery is 5-7 days after the final interview and receipt of all required assessments and records. Rush delivery of 72, 48 or 24 elapsed hours starts at the same point and includes weekends, subject to availability. We confirm the exact delivery date and time in writing before the rush surcharge is paid. Clinical review and co-signature remain required. Allow time before that clock for scheduling, interviews and gathering records.
What those days actually contain
The clock most people picture starts at the interview and ends when a PDF arrives. The real sequence starts earlier. We take intake and records from the referring immigration office, schedule one or more clinical interview sessions over secure video with the person identified for evaluation by the case type and referral question, and administer standardized instruments. Adult hardship cases use PHQ-9 and GAD-7. VAWA and minor evaluations follow their own protocols. In adult hardship cases, we add the PCL-5 with the LEC-5 when trauma is indicated, the PSS-14 when chronic stress or caregiver burden is central, and the WHODAS 2.0 when functional impairment needs a number attached to it.
Then the report gets written. Fifteen to twenty-five pages depending on the case, addressed to USCIS, with DSM-5-TR diagnostic impressions and every clinical statement traced to a source.
Then it goes to our clinical lead for review and co-signature. That step is the one people forget to budget for, and it is not a formality. The report is read in full, and when something needs another look it goes back before it goes out. A report leaves this firm with two clinicians’ names on it or it does not leave.
So when should you order it?
As soon as the person to be evaluated is identified and the client has agreed to the clinical piece. In practice that is usually earlier than people think, because the evaluation does not depend on the rest of the legal package being finished. It depends on having access to the evaluee and whatever records exist.
Three weeks of lead time is comfortable. One week is workable. Under 72 hours is an expedited case and should be priced and scheduled as one from the start, rather than discovered as one halfway through.
Hardship evaluations start at $750, VAWA at $1,000, U-Visa at $1,000, T-Visa at $1,000, and cancellation of removal at $1,200. Rush service adds $300 for 72 hours, $500 for 48 hours, or $900 for 24 hours to the case base fee, subject to availability. Complex, RFE, and supplemental cases are quoted per case, from $750. Full detail is on thepricing page.
Related evaluations
- I-601A Psychological Evaluation
- I-601 Psychological Evaluation
- I-612 / J-1 Exceptional Hardship Psychological Evaluation
- VAWA Psychological Evaluation (I-360)
- U Visa Psychological Evaluation (I-918)
- T-Visa Psychological Evaluation (I-914)
- Cancellation of Removal Psychological Evaluation (EOIR-42B)
- I-212 Psychological Evaluation
Related questions
- Can the evaluation be done entirely remotely?
- Yes. Interviews run over secure video and we work with referring offices nationwide from New Mexico. Instruments are administered during the session.
- Who gets evaluated, the applicant or the relative?
- It depends on the case type. Hardship evaluations focus on the qualifying U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative. VAWA evaluations focus on the abused self-petitioner, and U-Visa and T-Visa evaluations focus on the survivor. The referring attorney identifies the evaluation question.
General information about immigration policy and the psychological evaluation process. Not legal advice, and not a substitute for consultation with an immigration attorney.