Immigration Evaluations
At MindWorks Psychological Services, we know the strength of an immigration case depends on clear, credible documentation. Our evaluations give USCIS and immigration courts clinically sound reports that capture the full scope of your experiences.
Whether for an Extreme Hardship Waiver, VAWA petition, U-Visa, T-Visa, or Political Asylum, we conduct each assessment with precision, compassion, and respect. We take time to understand your history, gather essential details, and present your story accurately and meaningfully—ensuring you and your attorney have what you need to move forward with confidence.
VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) Evaluations
A VAWA psychological evaluation provides detailed documentation of the emotional and psychological effects of domestic violence, abuse, or extreme cruelty experienced by a spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. This assessment helps demonstrate the impact of the abuse in a clinically credible way, offering immigration officials insight into the applicant’s mental health, history of trauma, and resilience. The evaluation serves as evidence to support the self-petition by establishing how the abuse has affected daily functioning, safety, and overall well-being.
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Fear of retaliation, feelings of shame or self-blame, symptoms of PTSD, depression, or anxiety, difficulty describing abuse in detail, and the stress of navigating both legal and personal challenges.
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A confidential, trauma-informed interview; review of relevant history and records; and a clinically sound report detailing the psychological effects of the abuse, presented in a way that supports your legal petition while prioritizing emotional safety.
Extreme Hardship Waiver Evaluations
An Extreme Hardship Waiver evaluation examines the emotional, psychological, medical, and practical challenges a qualifying U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident would face if their family member were removed from the United States. This assessment goes beyond general sadness or inconvenience, focusing on the severe, measurable hardships that would result from separation or relocation. It provides USCIS with a clinically sound report that clearly outlines how the loss would affect the qualifying relative’s mental health, stability, and quality of life.
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Separation from close family, loss of caregiving or financial support, disruption of medical or mental health treatment, and significant emotional distress.
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A detailed interview with the qualifying relative to explore their emotional, medical, and personal circumstances, supported by psychological testing if appropriate. The final report outlines the depth and severity of potential hardships, linking them to credible clinical findings.
Political Asylum Evaluations
An asylum evaluation documents the mental health effects of past persecution, torture, or credible fear of future harm in the applicant’s home country. It captures the emotional toll of these experiences through a detailed clinical interview and, when appropriate, standardized trauma assessments. The evaluation explains how symptoms—such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression—relate directly to the experiences described in the asylum claim, helping to provide compelling, credible evidence for immigration court.
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Trauma-related symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, difficulty trusting others, and cultural or language barriers that make sharing the story more difficult.
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A culturally sensitive interview that allows you to share your experiences at your own pace, assessment of trauma symptoms, and a report that clearly links your psychological findings to your asylum claim.
U-Visa/T-Visa Evaluations
Psychological evaluations for U-Visa and T-Visa applicants provide an in-depth clinical account of the emotional and mental health impact of trauma. For U-Visa cases, evaluations focus on the psychological harm caused by qualifying crimes such as assault, domestic violence, sexual abuse, or kidnapping, where the applicant has cooperated or is cooperating with law enforcement. For T-Visa cases, evaluations document the consequences of human trafficking, including forced labor or sexual exploitation, and explore how coercion, abuse, and ongoing safety concerns affect mental health, daily functioning, and recovery. These evaluations serve as credible, evidence-based reports for USCIS, validating the applicant’s experiences, explaining psychological injuries, and reinforcing eligibility under U-Visa or T-Visa guidelines.
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PTSD, depression, anxiety, ongoing trauma symptoms, fear of retaliation, mistrust of authorities, difficulty discussing traumatic events, fear of traffickers, legal stress, and challenges adjusting to new environments.
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A confidential and supportive interview, psychological assessments as appropriate, and a clear, clinically sound report that documents trauma’s effects while protecting dignity and providing USCIS with credible evidence of lasting harm.
N-648 Disability Waivers
An N-648 psychological evaluation provides clinical documentation when a medical, cognitive, or mental health condition prevents an applicant from meeting the English and civics testing requirements for U.S. citizenship. The evaluation explores how psychiatric, neurological, or cognitive impairments affect learning, memory, communication, or concentration, and offers USCIS a credible, evidence-based explanation of why the applicant is unable to complete the exam requirements.
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Memory loss, learning disabilities, intellectual impairments, dementia, severe anxiety, depression, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, communication difficulties, and other conditions that limit the ability to learn or retain information.
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A confidential interview, relevant cognitive and psychological testing, and a clear clinical report that explains how the condition interferes with the applicant’s ability to meet USCIS testing requirements, while providing supportive documentation for the waiver request.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Initial Consultation
We begin with a virtual, confidential meeting to understand your needs, gather your background information, and explain the evaluation process. If you have an attorney, we coordinate to ensure all legal requirements are met.
Comprehensive
Assessment
Through an in-depth clinical interview and, when appropriate to your case, standardized psychological measures, we document your personal experiences, symptoms, and relevant history. This step is conducted care, respect, and cultural sensitivity.
Report & Feedback
We prepare a clear, credible, and clinically sound report tailored for USCIS or immigration court. You’ll have an opportunity to review the findings, and we can send the final report directly to your attorney if requested.