Are you an immigrant or have a loved one who is, and in need of support to become a U.S. citizen?
At Halcyon Therapy, we offer psychological evaluations for cases involving extreme hardship waivers and deportation cancellation, giving you the opportunity to live in the United States without fear or worry!
Hi, I’m Doris Baccala, LMSW. As a formerly undocumented person born in El Salvador, I understand firsthand what it means to go through the immigration process.
There is a high level of uncertainty and an overwhelming feeling of fear and vulnerability.
Now, with my social work license in Oklahoma and my certification in immigration evaluations from the National Organization of Forensic Social Work, I have decided to help others who may be in a similar place.
We are dedicated to our clients, providing honest, reliable and thorough reports. You can be confident that your evaluation will be conducted by an experienced professional, familiar with the specific requirements of immigration court, ensuring a strong and convincing psychological report that supports your case.
Along with my colleague, Shylah Ridgway, LCSW, we provide psychological evaluations to help other immigrants document the challenges they’ve faced. Our immigration evaluation services are designed for those who need support in their journey toward a safer and more stable life.
Step 5: Lastly, I will send the completed report to you and your attorney.
Step 4: Once you approve the report, your attorney may review it. If you or your attorney have any changes or edits, we can make them even after the final report is completed.
Step 3: I will write a psychological report that you will receive within 3-4 weeks, or within 1-2 weeks for urgent cases. This report will detail your experiences in your country of origin, your life in the United States, and how these circumstances have impacted your mental health. I will be available to answer any questions before, during, and after the completion of the report. You will have direct input to ensure the accuracy of the content.
Step 2: We will meet for up to three comprehensive evaluation sessions, either via Zoom, Psychology Today, or in person. These interviews will be confidential, convenient, and conducted in the language of your choice, using current clinical theories and data.
Step 1: We’ll start by scheduling an intake call to thoroughly understand your situation. During this call, you can also ask any questions about the process.
Our immigration evaluation services are available to people of all nationalities and cultural backgrounds and are offered in both English and Spanish. Here’s what you can expect from the psychological assessment process:
In asylum cases, an individual has been mistreated and abused in their home country due to political beliefs, religious affiliation, ethnic identity, gender, or violence in the family of origin. They seek asylum or safety from their country of origin within the U.S. Many of these individuals have experienced a great deal of trauma and emotional upheaval, which can have lasting psychological implications.
A psychological evaluation will establish the mental health consequences of prior abuse or persecution. It will also help determine how their experiences in their home country psychologically impacted them and explain some of their symptoms now and in the future.
Asylum:
Examples of extreme hardship may be:
- A U.S. Citizen whose partner is deported, resulting in a lack of emotional, financial, and childcare support.
- A primary caregiver for a U.S. citizen with significant medical needs is at risk for deportation and could go without assistance.
- A child with significant medical concerns that need to be treated solely in the United States and can't relocate
- Separating a U.S. citizen child from their foreign-born parent
For extreme hardship waivers or cancellation of removal cases, a psychological evaluation can be a powerful piece of evidence to show that the applicant would suffer extreme hardship if their relative was relocated to their country of origin or if they themselves had to relocate to remain with their relative.
Hardship:
A T-Visa can be granted to victims of human trafficking and their immediate families if they agree to assist law enforcement in testifying against their perpetrators. It can apply to two main types of trafficking: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. To be eligible for a T-Visa, an individual must demonstrate that they will endure unusual or severe harm if deported from the U.S. This can be related to their age, physical or mental condition, the likelihood of future victimization, and fear of punishment or retribution by traffickers should they return to their home country.
A psychological evaluation will establish the mental health consequences of the physical, psychological, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse they endured while trafficked.
T-Visa:
A U-Visa may be granted to an undocumented individual living in the U.S. who is a crime victim (typically a felony). They must demonstrate that they have experienced psychological ramifications following the crime. Ideally, this person must also be willing to help law enforcement and provide information that assists with the prosecution of the person that committed the crime. However, a U visa can also be used if the perpetrator is not arrested.
A psychological evaluation can help establish how the crime affected the victim during the event and afterward.
U-Visa:
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides a pathway to citizenship to men and women who have been physically and/or emotionally abused by their U.S. citizen spouse, parent, or child.
If an individual is undocumented, married to a U.S. citizen, and a victim of domestic abuse, they may be eligible for permanent residency in the U.S.
A psychological evaluation will help establish the psychological impact the physical, emotional, psychological, financial, or sexual abuse has had on the individual.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA):
- Standard Evaluation (3-4 weeks): $1,200.00
- Expedited Evaluation (2-3 weeks): $1,700.00
- Urgent Expedited Evaluation (1-2 weeks): $2,000.00
- Evaluation changes following approval (1-2 weeks): $300.00
There are a number of reasons why a psychological evaluation would be helpful – or sometimes even required – in order to move forward with immigration proceedings.
These reports consist of a thorough document your legal counsel can use to strengthen your court case. For example, when looking at asylum cases, while only 30% of asylum seekers are approved overall, 90% of those who have a psychological evaluation as part of their asylum application are approved.
If your attorney suggested that you obtain a report of a psychological evaluation, you’ve come to the right place!
Session One: An informal interview will assess emotional strengths and weaknesses, mental functioning, and relevant family history. This tends to be slightly longer than one hour.
Session Two: Your second session occurs at least a week (7-10 days in most cases) after your first session. It usually lasts approximately 45-60 minutes and consists of a second interview and the completion of diagnostic scales.
All of the information gathered during your clinical interviews will be used to create the report that we provide to your legal counsel as part of your immigration process.
