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IMMIGRATION EVALUATIONS

A psychological evaluation adds tremendous value to the immigration case. Immigration laws place the burden of proof on the applicant or beneficiary to show psychological distress. This is often aided by a psychological assessment or expert testimony. A comprehensive, expert evaluation conducted by Dr. Greenberg who is knowledgeable about the factors involved in extreme immigration issues and the relevant mental health issues, along with a thorough report, can be effectively used by your attorney to support your case and move forward with the immigration proceedings. Dr. Greenberg has over 20 years of experience conducting psychology evaluations for immigration-related issues with over 40 referring immigration attorneys. 

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We conduct psychological evaluations for the following issues related to immigration law:

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  • “Crimmigation” – Criminal activity and immigration 

  • Family Petition-Hardship Waivers (I601, I601A, EOIR-42A, and EOIR-42B)

  • Fraudulent Waivers 

  • LGBQTI Related International 

  • Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions (n-648) 

  • Mental Competence in Immigration Proceedings

  • Permanent Residency Issues

  • Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360) under Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

  • Political Asylum

  • Same Sex Couples Hardship Waivers

  • S-Visas Applications for Law enforcement informants

  • T-Visas applications for human trafficking victims

  • U-Visa applications for victims of crime

  • Withholding of Removal, and Convention Against Torture (I-589)

  • Other removal cases

Types of Immigration Evaluations We Provide

Crimmigration Evaluations

​Coined by legal scholar Juliet Stumpf in 2006, crimmigration has quickly developed as a distinct line of inquiry. Crimmigration analyzes the merging of criminal and immigration norms in its identity as a legal phenomenon in the United States, ”crimmigration,” a portmanteau of “criminal” and “immigration,” is the area of law that is related to the nexus between immigration and criminal law.

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We see your clients in detention centers and prisons.

Forensic Psychological Evaluation for Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions (N-648)

Medical certification for disability exemption: Individuals who suffer some types of disabilities/impairments may seek exemption for the English and Civics requirements for naturalization. Psychological evaluations explore the ways in which the “physical or developmental disability or mental impairment” hinders the person’s memory, attention, concentration, and/or ability to learn.

Forensic Psychological Evaluation for Withholding of Removal, and Convention Against Torture (I-589)

Political Asylum Psychological Evaluations serve to document the impact of mistreatment, abuse, or persecution inflicted in a foreign country. The emotional impact may include the development of formal mental health disorders that are identified using the DSM-5 and the ICD-10 +. The psychological evaluation may include any or all of the following: mental status exam, clinical interview, psychology testing of the immigrant, contacts with collaterals (per the signed and informed consent of client), and review of all available documents.  

Forensic Psychological Evaluation for Hardship or Waiver Applications

Hardship psychological evaluations are conducted when a citizen or resident of the United States (Applicant) applies for an immigration waiver, if the deportation or removal of a relative causes extreme and exceptional hardship.  A psychological evaluation explores and documents the impact of the immigration problems, which may include mental health diagnoses, impaired work and social functioning, education and fluency issues, financial problems, and safety concerns. The documentation of hardships may include any emotional ties the respondent alien and qualifying relatives may have in the USA and loss of those emotional ties, including acculturation and adaptability problems, may result in psychological hardship or emotional hardship that may be either extreme hardship or exceptional and extremely unusual hardship.

Forensic Psychological Evaluation for Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360) under Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Spousal Abuse Psychological Evaluations are performed on the spouse of a United States citizen or legal resident who has endured domestic violence. Psychological evaluation can serve to document the nature, severity, and frequency of the abuse. 

Forensic Psychological Evaluation for U Visa Application

The U nonimmigrant status (U-visa) is granted to some victims of of crimes.  The U visa applicant must have suffered mental of physical abuse and assisted law enforcement during the investigation or prosecution of the criminals. The psychologist will assess the impact of the crime on the client’s mental health.

Forensic Psychological Evaluation for Citizenship Examination Waiver

Psychological evaluations are performed to explore possible reason to o supplement a request for Citizenship Examination Waiver.  A legal resident of the United States may lack the skills or capacities needed to pass citizenship examinations such as the civics and English proficiency tests. Impairments in memory, head injuries, dementia (e.g., Alzheimer), illiteracy, medical issues that are affecting cognitive functioning, and learning disabilities may be helpful in your application of a N-648.

Assessing Mental Competence in Immigration Proceedings

In this narrative the forensic psychologist will try to explain the difference between psychological evaluations done to assess competence in immigration proceedings and competence in criminal proceedings.  The narrative will also describe what the respondent alien may need to possess in terms of decisional competence to appear before immigration court.  

Same Sex Couples Hardship Waivers

After the overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), same sex couples may use psychological evaluations to help demonstrate the spouse is the primary caregiver of a U.S. Citizen and help demonstrate the adverse effects of deportation on the American citizen. As a whole, psychological evaluations assist in establishing the hardships caused when the spouse of an American gay or lesbian is deported. These hardships may include mental health complications, medical problems, impaired work and social functioning, and financial difficulties.

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When appropriate, the psychological evaluation documents the hardships that impair the applicant’s ability to move to another country, or to remain in the U.S. without their spouse.

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