What to Expect in an Immigration Psychological Evaluation
From referral to completed evaluation: every step of how we work.
How does the evaluation process work, from referral to delivery?
An immigration psychological evaluation is a structured clinical interview, not a test you pass or fail. A licensed clinician asks about your history, your family, and how a denial or separation would affect you, then administers standardized instruments such as the PHQ-9 and GAD-7. The finished report goes to your attorney. This same forensic psychosocial evaluation supports the hardship waivers (I-601A, I-601, and related relief) that most families come to us for.
The process runs in seven steps. After your attorney refers the case, we complete an intake screening, conduct one or more clinical interviews with the person being evaluated by secure video (Google Meet), and administer standardized instruments (PHQ-9 and GAD-7 on every case, and more when clinically indicated). A co-signed forensic report follows, with a 3 to 7 business day standard turnaround.
Step 1
Referral
Your attorney or immigration office refers you to Kipu Terra. They send us the case information: client demographics, family relationship, waiver type, and any available supporting documents.
Step 2
Screening & Planning
We complete a clinical intake screening (15 to 20 minutes) to identify your case type, screen for hardship domains, determine which interview modules to use, and plan the assessment battery. This ensures the evaluation is tailored to your specific situation.
Step 3
Clinical Interview(s)
We conduct one or more clinical interviews with the person being evaluated by secure video (Google Meet, free, and works on any internet or phone connection). Sessions are conducted in English, Spanish, or both, guided by a structured interview guide tailored to your case type and waiver category.
Step 4
Standardized Assessment
We administer validated instruments: PHQ-9 (depression) and GAD-7 (anxiety) on every case, the PCL-5 with the LEC-5 when trauma is indicated, PSS-14 for chronic stress and caregiver burden, and WHODAS 2.0 for functional impairment. Complex cases may add Beck inventories, the PAI, or MMPI measures. Scores are recorded with severity cutoff determinations.
Step 5
Report Generation & Review
Your forensic report (12 to 25 pages) is drafted with DSM-5-TR diagnostic impressions. The report is weighted toward your strongest hardship areas identified during screening. The licensed evaluator reviews for clinical accuracy, forensic tone, and completeness.
Step 6
Clinical Review & Co-Signature
Every report receives a second clinical review. The independently licensed Clinical Lead examines the diagnostic impressions, clinical analysis, and conclusions, then co-signs before release. Two clinicians stand behind every Kipu Terra report. That is the standard we deliver.
Step 7
Delivery
The completed, co-signed forensic report is delivered to your attorney or immigration office as supporting evidence for your waiver filing.
What questions do they ask in an immigration psychological evaluation?
The clinician asks about general life domains, not a fixed script. Expect questions about your personal and family history, your relationship with the family member seeking relief, your health and mental health history, your work and finances, and how a denial or removal would change daily life. In hardship waiver cases such as the I-601A and I-601 (the perdón cases), those answers document the extreme hardship the qualifying relative would face.
How should I prepare, and what documents should I bring?
There is nothing to rehearse. Rest beforehand and answer in your own words; honest, specific answers help more than prepared ones. Your attorney sends us the case file when they refer you, so you do not need to gather paperwork. Bring only what helps you speak concretely: a list of your medications, the names and dates of any prior treatment providers, and a short personal timeline of key events.
How many sessions is the evaluation, and what is the interview like?
The evaluation is one or more clinical interview sessions after a short intake screening (about 15 to 20 minutes). The interview is a guided conversation, not a quiz: the clinician follows a structured interview guide and asks follow-up questions in English, Spanish, or both, with no interpreter needed. Sessions are conducted by secure video (Google Meet, free), so you take part from home.
Can you fail an immigration psychological evaluation?
No. This is a clinical documentation process, not a pass or fail exam. There is no score to beat and no right answer to give. The clinicians document what the clinical evidence supports, never a predetermined finding, and no honest evaluator can promise a particular finding or outcome. Your job is simply to answer openly; the evaluation records your situation as it is.
What tests are used in an immigration psychological evaluation?
Every case includes the PHQ-9 (depression) and GAD-7 (anxiety). When trauma is indicated, the clinician adds the PCL-5 with the LEC-5. The PSS-14 measures chronic stress and caregiver burden; WHODAS 2.0 measures functional impairment across daily-living domains. Complex cases may add Beck inventories, the PAI, or MMPI measures. Diagnostic impressions follow the DSM-5-TR framework. These instruments show the rigor of the assessment; they do not predetermine any diagnosis.
What happens after the evaluation? Who receives the report?
After the interviews and scoring, the co-signed 12 to 25 page report is delivered to your referring attorney or immigration office for the waiver filing. You pay Kipu Terra directly for the evaluation. How your information is protected is covered in our confidentiality answers, and what the report itself contains is described alongside our sample report.
Related: read evaluations for all seven case types, the extreme hardship evaluation for the I-601A waiver, our flat published pricing ($750 standard), more questions answered, what families should know, how remote evaluations by secure video work, nationwide, how expedited and same-day turnaround works, and what a psychosocial evaluation is and when you need one.
Common questions
Can you fail an immigration psychological evaluation?
No. It is a clinical documentation process, not a pass or fail exam. There is no score to beat and no right answer to give. The clinicians document what the clinical evidence supports, never a predetermined finding, and no honest evaluator can promise a particular finding or outcome.
How old can a psychological evaluation be for USCIS?
USCIS does not publish a fixed expiration date for a psychological evaluation. In practice, most attorneys want a recent report that reflects your current situation, so confirm the timing with your attorney. If you need a current report quickly, expedited turnaround is available.
Who receives the report after the evaluation?
The completed, co-signed report is delivered to your referring attorney or immigration office, who files it with USCIS as supporting evidence. You pay Kipu Terra directly for the evaluation, separately from any fees you pay your attorney.
My attorney asked me to get an immigration psychological evaluation. What is it, and how much does it cost?
It is a structured clinical interview with standardized tests that documents the hardship in your case for the waiver filing. A licensed clinician meets with you by secure video, then writes a report your attorney submits to USCIS. A standard evaluation is $750 flat, with published pricing.
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