Immigration Evaluations
I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field and with 5 years as a licensed clinician in Massachusetts. In addition to providing psychotherapy to individuals and families, I am expanding my private practice to include comprehensive immigration evaluations, including extreme hardship waivers, VAWA, asylum cases, and U and T visa assessments.
My approach combines clinical expertise, cultural sensitivity, and a deep understanding of the emotional and systemic challenges faced by immigrants and their families. I offer detailed, evidence-based psychological evaluations and professional reports tailored to meet the requirements of immigration proceedings. My goal is to provide compassionate, trauma-informed assessments that help clients share their stories and support their legal cases with clarity and credibility. If you are interested in services, please click this link:
Petitions for Extreme Hardship Waivers (I-601 or I-601A )
An Extreme Hardship Waiver petition is a legal request made to U.S. immigration authorities asking for special consideration when a family could suffer serious emotional, psychological, or financial hardship if a loved one is denied a visa or required to leave the country.
As a therapist, my role in the Extreme Hardship Waiver process is to provide a compassionate, professional evaluation that helps convey the emotional and psychological realities behind your case.
Here’s what that typically involves:
Listen to your story with care
Conducting a thorough clinical assessment
Documenting your experience clearly and respectfully
Collaborating with your legal team
Asylum
Asylum is a form of protection offered by the United States to individuals who have fled their home countries because they fear persecution or harm. It allows people to live safely in the U.S. without being forced to return to a dangerous situation.
As a therapist, my role in the asylum process is to provide a safe, respectful space for individuals to share their stories and to conduct a professional psychological evaluation that helps convey the emotional and psychological effects of past trauma and ongoing fear of persecution.
Here’s what that typically includes:
Creating a safe and supportive environment
Listening to your story with care and understanding
Conducting a thorough clinical assessment
Preparing a detailed, professional report
Collaborating with your legal team
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a federal law that allows certain immigrant survivors of domestic violence, abuse, or extreme cruelty to apply for legal status in the United States without relying on their abuser for sponsorship.
As a therapist, my role in the VAWA process is to offer compassionate support and professional evaluation for survivors seeking safety and stability.
Here’s what that typically involves:
providing a safe and confidential space
Listening with empathy and respect
Conducting a trauma-informed clinical assessment
Preparing a professional evaluation report
Collaborating with your legal representative
T Visa
The T Visa is a form of immigration relief for survivors of human trafficking. It offers protection to individuals who have been forced, coerced, or deceived into labor or commercial sex acts, allowing them to remain safely in the United States.
In T Visa cases, my role as a therapist is to offer both clinical expertise and compassionate support as survivors navigate the legal process and their healing journey.
This includes:
Creating a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive space
Listening with care and validation
Conducting a comprehensive psychological assessment
Preparing a professional clinical report
Working with the legal team
U Visa
The U Visa is a form of immigration relief for individuals who have been victims of certain crimes and have suffered mental or physical harm as a result. It is designed to help survivors find safety and stability while assisting law enforcement in investigating or prosecuting criminal activity.
As a therapist, my role in the U Visa process is to provide compassionate, trauma-informed support and a professional psychological evaluation that helps tell your story with care and accuracy.
This includes:
Creating a safe and trusting environment
Listening and understanding your story
Conducting a trauma-informed assessment
Preparing a detailed clinical report
Collaborating with your attorney
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two interviews
evaluation
final report
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A standard evaluation cost $700 - $1,000,
Sliding scale options are available!
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I will send you paperwork to complete prior to the assessment - there is a 50% deposit expected alongside the paperwork in order to schedule the interviews.
We will meet for 2 interviews, about an hour and half each time, to learn your history and complete further assessments that would be included in your evaluation.
After our two interviews, I will then write up the evaluation (please prepare for a 2-4 weeks wait) including the relevant details discussed and my psychiatric assessment (minimum 10-12 pages) to strengthen your immigration case.
You and your attorney will then review my assessment and can request any edits before I officially sign. In order for your attorney to receive the official copy, the other 50% of the deposit must be submitted.
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If you need a translator or would prefer a translator for better communication, please let me know so this can be scheduled prior to our interviews. A translator would be at your expense, though I can help with scheduling an official translator if needed (there would be a fee for the translator added to the total deposit).
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If you need an expedited assessment, there will be an extra $300 fee (on top of the $700-$1200 fee) expected prior to scheduling the interviews.
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Please click this link for inquiry: https://imari-medeiros.clientsecure.me