What You Need to Know About Psychosocial or Psychological Immigration Evaluations.

What You Need to Know About Psychosocial or Psychological Immigration Evaluations

Many individuals undergoing immigration proceedings to obtain legal status in the United States are being referred to undergo psychosocial or psychological immigration evaluations. This is because the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) may consider certain events and the the impact it has on ones mental health when deciding whether to grant a pardon and/or residency. The psychosocial or psychological evaluation for immigration may be used as a source of evidence that includes ones life story and assessment on ones mental health. Immigration evaluations are conducted by a licensed mental health professional. 

Below are four distinct immigration proceedings in which psychosocial evaluations (alternatively psychological immigration evaluations) can be helpful.

Extreme Hardship

When a citizen or a legal permanent resident of the United States, spouse or child, might experience extreme hardship when leaving the country, examples include when the citizen: lacks similar health treatment in the foreign country, is a caretaker of a relative, is unable to make a living without a spouse, is at risk of anxiety or depression due to separation.

Spousal Abuse

When a male or female of a foreign country marries a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and has undergone abuse by their spouse. Examples of abuse include; physical, verbal, sexual, or psychological abuse.

U-Visa

When the immigrant, including an undocumented immigrant, has been a victim of serious crime in the United States, such crimes include; a violent crime, sexual, involuntary servitude, sexual exploitation, rape, and/or domestic violence.

Political Asylum

When the foreign individual was subject to mistreatment and abuse in a foreign country, causing psychological illness such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the abuse could be related to; politics, religion, ethnicity, and/or gender.

The entire psychosocial evaluation for the immigration process can be conducted in English or Spanish, except the final report that must be in English to be accepted by the immigration courts. The final report is composed of about 5 to 8 pages and is not a simple letter; it is a complex statement related to important factors that are taken into account by The U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The evaluation occurs over the course of 3 to 4, 1 hour sessions, in person or via telehealth. The evaluator will ask personal questions pertaining to early childhood development, family history and background, education, employment and finances, and traumatic events. It is most helpful when you are able to provide as much detail as possible to support your case, this includes dates, names, location, specific statements, pictures, text messages, and/or emails. In addition, the evaluation includes mental health assessments to establish the severity of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Though Awaken Wellness completes the evaluation and provides the report we do not offer legal advise nor do we offer assistance in the completion of USCIS forms that are required to be submitted for your case to be reviewed.

Awaken Wellness does partner with Frank Bonhomme, who has over 20 years of experience offering his community support in the completion and submission of USCIS forms. He also works in tandem with lawyers that can be consulted in more complex cases. For the most part working with a consultant such as Mr. Bonhomme can save you money and also provide you a more person centered approach. In an interview with Mr. Bonhomme he shared a 96% success rate when assisting clients with this process. As part of your case review by USCIS, a interview is required. Mr. Bonhomme does assist in preparing you for a successful interview with questions commonly asked in the process. If you are interested in working with Mr. Bonhomme he can be reached at immigrationorg237@gmail.com or (646) 321-5801.

Feel free to contact us with any additional questions.