Our Services
Extreme Hardship Waiver,
Asylum and VAWA
Do You Or Your Client Qualify For A Hardship Evaluation?
An extreme hardship evaluation is a specialized immigration assessment conducted by a psychologist. Its purpose is to demonstrate how obtaining lawful permanent residency (LPR) can benefit an individual who is at risk of being separated from their loved ones. This evaluation can also show the impact on a United States petitioner if they were to potentially move with a non-citizen or non-resident beneficiary. If you or your client is eligible for residency, a hardship evaluation could potentially bolster your case with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
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If approved by the court, a hardship evaluation could pave the way for a Green Card or other forms of valid residency. These evaluations use evidence to show how separation from loved ones or relocating outside of the United States would result in psychological hardship. By demonstrating the impact of such separation, these evaluations can be instrumental in helping families stay together.
A Hardship Evaluation Can Enhance Your Immigration Case And Help You Cope With Stress
Whether you or your partner, parent, or child is a non-resident of the United States, you’re likely concerned about how a separation would impact you and your relationships. You may be caught in the difficult position of having to raise a child separately from your partner, being unable to consistently care for an aging or ill parent, or possibly uprooting your life to move to another country if your loved one cannot achieve residency here.
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With the added stress of not knowing what the future holds for your immigration case, you’re probably experiencing an upswing in mental, emotional, and physical symptoms. Maybe you frequently struggle with fear, uncertainty, and anxiety. Or perhaps you feel hopeless that you’ll be able to manage all of your responsibilities without your loved one physically present. Financial ramifications could loom large if your loved one isn’t granted residency. For instance, if they cannot secure a stable, legal job or if you’re burdened by frequent travel and legal expenses, you may worry that the future and livelihood of your family depends on whether or not your loved one can stay.
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A hardship evaluation is meant to enhance your immigration case, providing strong evidence for how psychological symptoms and stressors could potentially worsen without the support and presence of your loved one, or how psychological symptoms and stressors could potentially worsen if you had to uproot your entire life to another country in order to maintain an intact family. Through interviews, subjective and objective testing, and a review of your legal documentation, I can offer you a thorough evaluation to demonstrate hardship in your specific case while offering tailored solutions for long-term stress relief.
​Why Is It Valuable To Have An Evaluation Done By A Mental Health Clinician?
If you or a loved one is a non-resident of the United States, you may be worried about the impact that separation could have on your relationships. You could be facing difficult situations, such as having to raise a child separately from your partner, being unable to provide consistent care for an aging or ill parent, or potentially having to uproot your life to relocate to another country if your loved one cannot obtain residency in the US.
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The uncertainty surrounding your immigration case can cause a range of mental, emotional, and physical symptoms, including fear, anxiety, hopelessness, and financial concerns. You may be burdened by frequent travel and legal expenses, worried about your loved one’s ability to find stable employment, and uncertain about the future of your family.
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A hardship evaluation can provide valuable evidence for your immigration case by demonstrating how separation from your loved one or having to relocate to another country could worsen your psychological symptoms and stress levels. Through interviews, objective and subjective testing, and a review of your legal documentation, I can provide a comprehensive evaluation tailored to your specific situation. This evaluation can help to show the hardship that you are facing and offer solutions for long-term stress relief.
Asylum
The evaluator will carefully discuss with you the events that led to your decision to flee your country of origin. This could include past persecution or fear of future persecution based on factors such as ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, political ideology, religion, or membership in questionable social groups. They will also explore the impact that these events have had on your emotional, psychological, and physical well-being, if applicable.
While it may be challenging to discuss traumatic or life-threatening experiences, the evaluator will follow your lead in terms of what you feel comfortable sharing and when. For more information about the asylum process, you can visit the USCIS website at the following link: here
VAWA
The evaluator is highly skilled in evaluating individuals of all genders who have experienced domestic violence. Domestic violence can include not only physical abuse, but also psychological, verbal, and emotional abuse.
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According to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), immigrants who are spouses, parents, or children of abusive United States citizens or lawful permanent residents have the right to petition for permanent residence (Green Card) and/or employment authorization to seek safety and independence from their abuser. A VAWA immigration evaluation can help assess the extent of the spousal abuse suffered, as well as the emotional, psychological, and physical impact it had on the individual. For more information about the VAWA/Spousal Abuse process, please visit the USCIS website here
