Updated October 29th, 2026
Do you have a family member going through the immigration process who needs a psychological evaluation? Navigating the process can be difficult, especially when English is not their first language. Many people turn to family members they trust for help understanding information, preparing for appointments, and knowing what to expect.
If someone you care about needs an immigration psychological evaluation, there are several ways you can help them prepare. Keep reading for practical tips, what to expect during the process, and how you can support your family members along the way.
An immigration psychological evaluation is a mental health assessment conducted by a licensed evaluator for use in an immigration legal case. Unlike therapy, which focuses on ongoing mental health treatment, an immigration psychological evaluation focuses on understanding and documenting a person's experiences and how they may have affected their mental health.
During the evaluation, a licensed evaluator will ask about the person's background, experiences, mental health symptoms, and daily life. The findings are then documented in a detailed written report that may be used as part of their immigration case.
At Clarity Clinic, we provide immigration psychological evaluations for the following types of cases:
Each evaluation is completed independently and objectively, with findings based on the information gathered during the assessment.
If someone you care about needs an immigration psychological evaluation, there are several ways you can help them prepare. From gathering important documents to helping them feel more comfortable with the process, your involvement can make preparing for their evaluation less overwhelming.
- Help them understand the evaluation process: Explain what an immigration psychological evaluation involves, why it may be needed, and what they can expect during their appointments. You can also help them write down any questions they want to ask their evaluator.
- Help research and find a trusted clinic: If your family member hasn't scheduled an evaluation yet, you can help them research clinics that offer immigration psychological evaluations. Look for licensed evaluators with experience conducting immigration evaluations, ask about the process and costs, and make sure the clinic offers services in a language your family member understands or interpretation services.
- Help gather important information and documents: Your family member may need their attorney's contact information, upcoming court dates, or documents related to their immigration case. Helping them organize this information ahead of time can make preparing for their evaluation easier.
- Write down important dates and events: Help your family member create a general timeline of important experiences or events related to their case. They do not need to remember every exact date or detail, but having a timeline may help them organize their thoughts.
- Keep track of appointments: Make sure your family member knows when and where their appointments will take place. You can help them set reminders, arrange transportation, or plan around work and other responsibilities.
- Help them prepare for online appointments: If your family member is completing their evaluation online, help them find a quiet, private space where they feel comfortable speaking. You can also help them test their internet connection, camera, and microphone before their appointment.
- Remind them that they don't need to rehearse their answers: Your family member does not need to memorize what to say or prepare specific answers. Encourage them to speak openly and honestly about their experiences in their own words. It is okay if they cannot remember every detail.
-Provide emotional support: Your family member may feel nervous or overwhelmed about their evaluation, especially if they will be discussing difficult experiences. Let them know you're there for them, listen without judgment, and respect their feelings and boundaries throughout the process.
Remember, your role is to help your family members feel prepared, not to tell them what to say. The evaluation is an independent assessment, and your loved one should feel comfortable sharing their own experiences directly with their evaluator.
Before your family member's immigration evaluation, it can be helpful to gather important information ahead of time. Here are some things you can help them prepare so they have everything on hand for their appointments.
If they are unsure what information is needed, they can ask the evaluation team before their first appointment.
An immigration psychological evaluation may involve discussing difficult or painful experiences. For some people, talking about past trauma, family separation, or other personal experiences can bring up strong emotions. As a family member, you can provide emotional support and help your loved one feel more comfortable before and after their appointments.
Here are some ways you can offer support:
Remember, you don't need to have all the answers or know exactly what to say. Being patient, listening, and respecting your family member's needs can make a meaningful difference as they go through the evaluation process.
While your intentions may be good, there are certain things you should avoid when helping a family member prepare for an immigration psychological evaluation. Remember, the goal is to help your loved one feel comfortable and prepared, not to influence what they share with their evaluator.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
The most important thing you can do is respect your family member's independence throughout the process. You can help them prepare and offer encouragement while allowing them to share their own experiences honestly with their evaluator.
Yes! In fact, it is common for people to bring a family member or trusted friend to their immigration evaluation for emotional support or help with communication. If your loved one would like you to attend, make sure you let the evaluation team know ahead of time.
If your family member does not speak English or feels more comfortable speaking another language, you do not need to serve as their interpreter. At Clarity Clinic, we have Spanish-speaking evaluators and offer professional interpretation services in other languages at no additional cost.
After your family member completes their evaluation appointments, their evaluator will review the information gathered, including their experiences, mental health history, and any psychological testing results. The evaluator will then prepare a detailed written report documenting their professional findings.
Before the report is finalized, your family member will have a feedback session with their evaluator. During this appointment, they can review the report, ask questions, and correct any factual information that may be incorrect.
Once the report is complete, it will be provided directly to your family member. Clarity Clinic will only share the report with their immigration attorney or another person if your family member provides written permission.
As a family member, you can help by reminding your loved one about their feedback appointment and encouraging them to carefully review their report before it is finalized.
If your family member needs an immigration psychological evaluation, Clarity Clinic is here to help. Our licensed, trauma-informed evaluators provide independent psychological evaluations for asylum, VAWA, U Visa, and extreme or exceptional hardship cases.
Evaluations are available in person at select Chicago-area locations and online throughout Illinois. For online appointments, your family member must be physically located in Illinois at the time of the appointment. We also have Spanish-speaking evaluators and offer professional interpretation services in other languages at no additional cost.
While working with an immigration attorney is recommended, it is not required to schedule an evaluation. If your family member does not have an attorney, we can provide resources to help them find one.
Want to help your loved one get started? Contact Clarity Clinic today to learn more about our immigration psychological evaluations, ask questions, or help your family member schedule an initial consultation.
See How We Can HelpRelated Readings:
You can help your family member contact Clarity Clinic, ask questions, and learn how to schedule an immigration psychological evaluation. However, your family member will need to participate in the evaluation themselves and complete any required consent forms.
Your family member's evaluation and mental health information are confidential. Their evaluator cannot share private information with you without the appropriate written permission. If your family member would like you to be involved, they can ask the evaluation team about providing authorization.
It's understandable to feel nervous about discussing difficult or personal experiences. Clarity Clinic's licensed evaluators use a compassionate, trauma-informed approach. Encourage your family member to let their evaluator know if they feel uncomfortable or need a break during an appointment.
You can contact Clarity Clinic to ask about payment arrangements for your family member's evaluation. Immigration psychological evaluations are self-pay and are not billed to insurance. The total cost at Clarity Clinic is $1,200, with payment required when scheduling.
