An Immigration Evaluation That Helps You Tell Your Story
An immigration psychological evaluation is a clinical assessment that documents how persecution, abuse, or the threat of family separation has affected your mental health, written as a report your attorney can submit to USCIS. Charika White, a licensed clinical social worker, conducts immigration evaluations by secure telehealth for people across Maryland and Washington, DC.
$1,000 flat fee. Reports ready in 2 to 3 weeks, expedited in 7 days. Asylum, hardship waiver, and VAWA cases.
Three case types. One careful clinical process.
Immigration attorneys request psychological evaluations by case type. If you’re not sure which one fits your situation, that’s exactly what the free consultation is for.
Extreme Hardship Waiver
When separation would create substantial hardship for a US citizen or lawful permanent resident family member, this evaluation documents the emotional, medical, and psychological toll your absence would take. Attorneys request it for waiver filings and cancellation of removal cases. The interview, the report and the fee are set out on the extreme hardship waiver evaluation page.
Asylum
If you fled your home country fearing persecution for your race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group, an asylum evaluation names the post-traumatic stress and mental health impact clinically, so your fear reads as the evidence it is.
VAWA
For survivors of abuse by a US citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or child. The VAWA psychological evaluation in DC has its own page covering who qualifies and how self-petitioning stays confidential.
Every strong petition starts with a story told clearly.
What is an immigration psychological evaluation?
An immigration psychological evaluation is a formal mental health assessment conducted by a licensed mental health professional to support an immigration case. It’s different from therapy. Therapy treats. An evaluation documents.
If your attorney asked you to complete one, Charika’s short video walks through what actually happens: a structured clinical interview, screening for trauma, anxiety, and depression, and a written clinical narrative of the psychological and emotional impact, built to the documentation standards immigration officials expect.
Attorneys sometimes call these assessments immigration psychological evaluations or mental health evaluations. Same document, same standards.
Written to meet USCIS standards. Built to be read.
Immigration lawyers refer clients here for professional psychological evaluations because the reports hold up. Each one aligns with USCIS guidelines and presents clinical findings in language legal professionals and immigration officials can actually use, whether the case involves asylum, extreme hardship, or a VAWA psychological evaluation. Attorney collaboration is welcome at every stage, from intake through filing.
And if you found this page on your own, without a lawyer, you can still begin. The mental health side of your case doesn’t have to wait for the legal side to be settled.
The emotional weight of removal proceedings is real, and Charika writes about it directly: the trauma of facing deportation and the mental health effects of deportation on families both live in her therapy resources library. She also offers individual therapy for when documentation is not the kind of support you need most.
One flat fee. No surprises mid-case.
Most providers make you call to ask. Here, the numbers live on the page: the immigration evaluation costs $1,000, complete.
The fee includes the clinical interview, mental health screening, the written report, and coordination with your legal team when requested. Evaluations are self-pay. Insurance does not cover legal documentation, and you will know the full cost before we begin.
Reaching out is often the hardest part.
This form goes directly to Charika. She reads what you share and responds with care, typically within 1 to 2 business days, to schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation. That call is a conversation about your case and whether the fit feels right. You decide from there.
If your attorney has given you a filing deadline, mention it in your message. The expedited option exists for exactly that.
Prefer to skip the form? Book your free call directly or call or text 301-244-8219.
Four steps, at your pace.
A free 15-minute consultation
We talk through your case type, your timeline, and what the evaluation involves. Come with questions. If you have an attorney, they are welcome on the call.
The evaluation session
An in-depth clinical interview over secure video, with mental health screening and space for your personal and cultural history. Most evaluations are completed in one to two sessions.
The written report
Charika prepares a detailed clinical narrative, symptoms, history, and diagnoses where clinically supported, structured to USCIS documentation standards.
Delivery and collaboration
Your report arrives in 2 to 3 weeks, or 7 days expedited. With your written consent, it goes to your immigration attorney, and Charika coordinates directly with your legal team when asked.
Google reviewI've struggled to connect with other therapists because I am a 1st generation immigrant but Ms White was able to relate to my story because of her immigrant background and her understanding of the cultural challenges I faced.
A licensed therapist who understands what you’re going through.
Every evaluation at Life Migration Therapy is conducted by Charika White, LICSW, LCSW-C, a licensed psychotherapist serving Maryland and Washington, DC. She’s also a Black immigrant woman from the Caribbean. She knows what migration asks of a person, because she has lived the in-between herself.
Her role is to document the psychological and emotional effects of your experience through a trauma-responsive, evidence-based lens. She works most often with first-generation immigrants, survivors of abuse and domestic violence, and Black and Brown individuals navigating mental health challenges like trauma, anxiety, and depression. Each report is carefully written to give your application the clinical support it needs.
- ✓A full psychological assessment, conducted with care over secure video
- ✓A detailed report with emotional, cognitive, and diagnostic insights
- ✓Collaboration with your immigration attorney when needed
- ✓A safe, affirming space to share your story in confidence
Immigration evaluation questions, answered.
What people ask most about pricing, process, timelines, and how this one step supports a path to legal status in the United States.
What is an immigration psychological evaluation?
An immigration psychological evaluation is a formal mental health assessment used to support immigration cases like asylum, VAWA, and extreme hardship waivers. It includes a clinical interview, screening for symptoms such as trauma, depression, or anxiety, and a detailed written report prepared by a licensed therapist to align with USCIS documentation standards.
How much does an immigration evaluation cost?
The evaluation is $1,000 flat, which covers every session, the full written report, and collaboration with your attorney when needed. An expedited 7-day turnaround is available for an additional $500. You won’t find hidden fees partway through. The price you see is the price you pay.
How can a psychological evaluation help my immigration case?
A well-prepared evaluation documents the emotional distress, trauma, or mental health symptoms that support the legal requirements of your case. Immigration attorneys use these reports as evidence when filing petitions with USCIS or presenting at hearings, from hardship waivers to cancellation of removal, because a clinical narrative carries weight that a personal statement alone cannot.
What should I expect during the evaluation?
Expect a compassionate, judgment-free experience over secure video. The process includes an in-depth clinical interview, mental health screening, and a real conversation about your personal and cultural history. Most evaluations are completed in one to two sessions, and your comfort and confidentiality are the priority the whole way through.
How do I prepare for an immigration evaluation?
You don’t need to prepare anything beyond showing up as yourself. If you have documents that relate to your case, medical records, or notes from your attorney, have them nearby. Rest the night before if you can. There are no right answers, and nothing about the conversation is a test.
What questions are asked during the evaluation?
Questions cover your personal history, your migration story, what you experienced before and after coming to the United States, and how those experiences affect your sleep, mood, relationships, and daily functioning. Charika moves at your pace. You can pause, take a breath, or circle back to anything at any time.
How long does it take to receive the final report?
The standard turnaround for the written report is 2 to 3 weeks after your evaluation. An expedited 7-day option is available for an additional $500 when your attorney is working against a filing deadline. Reports are detailed and ready to share with your legal representative.
Are these evaluations accepted by immigration attorneys and USCIS?
Yes. Evaluations at Life Migration Therapy are structured to meet USCIS guidelines and are regularly used by immigration attorneys for asylum, VAWA, and extreme hardship waiver applications.
Does insurance cover an immigration evaluation?
No. Immigration evaluations are legal documentation, not therapy, so health insurance doesn’t apply and Life Migration Therapy is a self-pay practice. The $1,000 flat fee keeps the full cost clear from day one, with nothing billed to or through an insurer.
Do I need an attorney to schedule an evaluation?
No. Many clients are referred by immigration lawyers, but you can begin without one. If you do have legal representation, Charika is glad to coordinate with your attorney so the evaluation aligns with your overall immigration strategy.
What if I have experienced trauma or abuse?
Charika provides a trauma-responsive and culturally responsive approach. Whether you’re a survivor of domestic violence, political persecution, or human trafficking, the evaluation is handled with care, sensitivity, and confidentiality, and you set the pace.
What you survived deserves to be named.
Book a free 15-minute consultation, or call or text when you’re ready. One conversation, no pressure to commit, and every question about your evaluation answered.
