Updated October 7th, 2026
If you are applying for asylum, a professional psychological evaluation can be included as part of your immigration asylum case. It can help document trauma, mental health symptoms, and how your experiences have affected your life. If you live in Chicago or Illinois, keep reading to learn how psychological evaluations for asylum work, what to expect, and how to get an evaluation at Clarity Clinic.
Asylum is a form of protection that may allow certain people to stay in the United States if they have experienced persecution or fear persecution in their home country.
To qualify for immigration asylum, the persecution must be connected to at least one of five protected reasons:
People who are granted asylum are allowed to remain in the United States and may eventually be able to apply for lawful permanent residence (a Green Card).
Applying for immigration asylum is a legal process, and every case is different. An immigration attorney can help you understand whether you may qualify and what information or evidence may be needed for your case.
A psychological evaluation for asylum is a mental health assessment that may be used as part of an asylum case. It is completed by a licensed mental health professional and is separate from therapy or ongoing mental health treatment.
After the evaluation, the evaluator prepares a written report with their findings. This report may help your attorney and immigration officials better understand the psychological effects of what you have experienced and how those experiences relate to your asylum case.
A psychological evaluation does not decide whether you will be granted asylum. The evaluator provides an independent mental health evaluation, while immigration officials make the final decision about your case.
A psychological evaluation or immigration evaluation can provide professional evidence about how persecution, trauma, or other difficult experiences have affected your mental health. A psychological evaluation may be used in an asylum case to:
A psychological evaluation does not guarantee that asylum will be granted, and it is not required in every asylum case. Instead, it can provide additional professional evidence related to the information included in your I-589 and other parts of your asylum application.
During an asylum psychological evaluation, you will meet with a licensed mental health evaluator who will learn about your experiences and how they have affected your mental health.
At Clarity Clinic, the evaluation usually includes four 60-minute appointments. During these appointments, your evaluator may ask about:
Your evaluator will guide you through the evaluation in a respectful and trauma-informed way. After the evaluation, your evaluator will prepare a written psychological report with their findings. You will then have a final appointment to review the report and correct any factual information that may be incorrect.
No. A psychological evaluation is not required for every person who applies for asylum. However, it may provide additional clinical information that is relevant to some asylum cases. Every asylum case is different. Your immigration attorney can help you decide whether a psychological evaluation may be appropriate for your specific case.
After your evaluation is complete, your evaluator will prepare a detailed written report. The report explains what the clinician learned during your appointments and how your experiences may have affected your mental health.
An asylum psychological evaluation report may include:
The report provides a professional mental health perspective, but it does not decide whether you qualify for asylum or whether asylum will be granted. Those are legal decisions made by immigration authorities.
At Clarity Clinic, an asylum psychological evaluation typically takes about 4 to 6 weeks from your first appointment to your completed report. The exact timeline may vary depending on appointment availability and your individual case.
Once your evaluation begins, all evaluation appointments must be completed within 30 days of your first appointment. After your appointments are complete, your evaluator will review the information gathered and prepare your written psychological report.
If you have an upcoming asylum filing deadline, interview, or court date, let our team know during your initial consultation. Expedited evaluations may be available depending on evaluator availability for an additional fee.
At Clarity Clinic, an asylum psychological evaluation costs $1,200 total. Immigration psychological evaluations are self-pay and are not billed to insurance.
The full $1,200 payment is due when you schedule your evaluation. This fee covers the entire evaluation process, including your evaluation appointments, psychological testing, the evaluator’s time reviewing your information and preparing your detailed psychological report, and your final feedback session.
During your final feedback session, your evaluator will review the report with you.
If you are applying for asylum and need a psychological evaluation, Clarity Clinic is here to help. Our licensed evaluators provide respectful, trauma-informed evaluations that can be presented as part of your asylum case.
Asylum psychological evaluations are available in person in the Chicago area at our Loop, Evanston, and River North locations, as well as virtually throughout Illinois. For virtual evaluations, you must be physically located in Illinois during each appointment. Spanish-speaking evaluators and interpretation services are available at no additional cost.
Contact Clarity Clinic today to learn more or schedule an initial consultation for an asylum psychological evaluation.
Schedule a ConsultationThis is general information, not legal advice, asylum rules can change.
A psychological evaluation is not required for every I-589 application. However, a psychological evaluation report may be used as supporting evidence for your asylum case. Your attorney will advise you on whether you need one or not.
No. Immigration psychological evaluations at Clarity Clinic are self-pay and are not billed to insurance. The total cost is $1,200.
Clarity Clinic offers asylum evaluations in person in Chicago and virtually throughout Illinois. For virtual appointments, you must be physically located in Illinois during each session.
Yes. Your information is kept private and protected by law, and you do not need to provide proof of your immigration status to receive an evaluation. Clarity Clinic does not report your immigration status to immigration authorities.
Your completed psychological report is only shared with your attorney or another person you authorize in writing.
You can still complete an immigration psychological evaluation. Spanish-speaking evaluators are available, and free interpretation services for other languages are provided to help you understand and participate in the evaluation process.
No. Working with an immigration attorney is recommended, but not required. You can schedule an immigration psychological evaluation at Clarity Clinic even if you do not currently have an attorney. An attorney can provide legal guidance about your immigration case and how the evaluation may be used. If you do not have an immigration attorney, our team can provide resources to help connect you with one.
