Immigration Evaluations

We are proud to offer culturally mindful, trauma-informed immigration evaluations in our effort to serve immigrant communities.

Please see below for the types of cases for which we offer evaluations.

Extreme Hardship Waiver

Extreme Hardship Waivers are given to immigrants who have remained in the United States without permission. The application is submitted by a family member that is a legal U.S. Citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States that would experience extreme hardship if they were separated from or forced to relocate with the non-citizen immigrant. 

VAWA Evaluation

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides non-citizen immigrants, regardless of gender, with a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident spouse, children, or parent to file a petition to remain in the United States without the abuser’s knowledge. The non-citizen immigrant must provide evidence that proves the suffering of the violence and domestic abuse. 

Asylum Evaluation

Asylum is a process that must be completed with your lawyer within one year of arriving to the U.S. if you seek protection for yourself (including your spouse and children) due to suffering or thinking you might suffer persecution in your country of origin. The types of persecution suffered could be related to race, religion, nationality, being a member of a social group, and/or due to having a certain political opinion.

U-Visa/T-VISA

A U-Visa is a non-immigrant visa given to victims of a crime (and their immediate family members) while in the United States. The T-Visa is specifically for victims of human trafficking crimes. The undocumented individual is also willing to work together with law enforcement and the government with the investigation process of the criminal activity that caused them physical or mental suffering. U.S. authorities protect the victim during this process.

Process and Fees

1. If you are a client or an attorney/paralegal, please reach out and inform us of the nature of your case. We are happy to provide a 15-minute free consultation to determine if we are the best fit for your needs.

2. If you decide to move forward, we will send over documentation to complete and discuss fee details with you.

3. Once your paperwork has been completed and your deposit has been paid, you will engage in two 75-minute interviews within two weeks of one another.

   i) Please note, if you require additional interviews for yourself or other family members, these will incur an additional cost (see below).

4. If needed, we will follow up with a phone call to substantiate any missing information from the interview.

5. Next, we will consult with your attorney/paralegal to glean further collateral information as necessary.

6. The written draft will then be sent to your attorney/paralegal to cross-reference and confirm information (e.g., dates and names).

7. Finally, a copy of the finalized evaluation will be mailed to your attorney/paralegal and another copy will be sent to you.

Please Note: Written consent to communicate with the attorney/paralegal on the case is required to complete the evaluation. Please consult with an attorney regarding the type of evaluation that is recommended for your case and whether one is required for your case. Also, rescheduling/canceling appointments may delay the turnaround time for the evaluation. Typically, evaluations are completed in 2 weeks.

Immigration Evaluation Fee: $1,500
Rush Fee (Delivery within One Week): additional $300=$1,800
Additional Interviewee Fee: $100 per person up to $500

Notes about Fees:
$250 nonrefundable deposit due prior to first interview for all clients (applied to total cost of evaluation).
Rush service depends upon availability.
We offer payment plans including 3-month ($500 per month) and 6-month ($250 per month) plans at no additional cost.

FAQS

Do I need to come to your office to do the evaluation?

We can work with clients in-office or via telehealth provided they are physically located within the state of California. Due to licensing rules, we cannot conduct evaluations for folks who live outside of the state.

Can I still get an evaluation if I don’t speak English?

At present, our evaluators are unable to conduct assessments in any language other than English. However, we are happy to work with interpreters and can recommend Craney Interpreting Services and MHC Interpreting Services. Whenever possible, we encourage clients to secure their own interpreters to bring to sessions.

Can’t my family member just serve as an interpreter for me?

Unfortunately, no. Due to the sensitive nature of these evaluations, it is best for interpretation to be conducted by a professional interpreter.

Do you offer any pro bono services?

We reserve pro bono spots for people experiencing financial hardship. Please inquire about this during your consultation. When you are able to pay our regular rates, you are ensuring that those who need reduced rate services have access to those appointments.