Immigration Evaluations
“I need what? I don’t understand…”
When Maria* called me, she didn’t really understand what was needed or who needed it. All she knew was that something from a psychologist was needed for her spouse’s deportation case so that he could have a better chance of staying in the United States.
With her permission, I spoke to their attorney.
I knew exactly what we needed to do: a hardship evaluation.
So, that’s what we did…
Maria opened up to me about what was going on in her life. She talked to me about the supports she had and didn’t have. She shared some of her history.
She was nervous, but she worked her way through the tests. It turned out they were as easy as answering simple questions.
Going into court, she had a good understanding of what was needed and why.
Maria wasn’t alone on the day of the proceedings.
Her attorney and I were there with her.
The court didn’t even need to hear from me directly. They read the report, which was thorough and clear.
Maria needed her spouse to stay. And as the judge spoke, a wave of relief washed over her (and excitement washed over me!).
We were successful. Maria’s spouse got to stay!
“This is our only shot.”
Jorge’s* attorney contacted me because he needed a psychological evaluation for an asylum case and wanted to know if I could do it.
Well… I could. So, I arranged a meeting time for me, Jorge, and his attorney.
Jorge was nervous. He only spoke Spanish and wasn’t sure I’d understand well enough since Spanish was my second language. But when he talked to me, he realized I could handle it. And it was way better than using an interpreter.
Jorge told me his story… slowly. We made sure it was clear and focused on the impact of the terrible things he had survived and what those experiences meant for him now. He didn’t show much emotion, but his avoidance made it clear that he was suffering a trauma response.
Jorge’s legal team and I were prepared.
When we went to court, we knew we would face tough questions about his case.
We all hoped everyone else would agree as I explained to the judge and the other side why I believed Jorge’s story and symptoms. I also explained malingering and how the tests have valid ways of screening for it.
I had my concerns through the trial, but they gave way to relief and excitement when the decision was handed down and Jorge was able to stay.
Nobody WANTS to do this stuff.
Jorge and Maria didn’t want to get psychological evaluations, but they didn’t have a choice because they or their loved ones were at serious risk of being deported.
They were relieved to find someone who could understand them and make the process as painless as possible.
In the end, they were glad they did their evaluations. It’s hard for them to imagine where they would be or what might have happened if they didn’t.
There are no guarantees that a psychological evaluation will win a case. But I’ve seen enough myself and seen the research to know how much they can help.
Based on our initial meeting, I’ll let you know if I think a psychological evaluation will be helpful. We’ll move forward with a full evaluation and report for your case.
Ready to strengthen your case? Schedule an initial consultation call today.
*Names and stories are composite narratives and do not reflect actual clients.