Immigration and Asylum Psychological Evaluations

Forensic psychological evaluations for immigration cases, conducted in English and Farsi

I provide forensic psychological evaluations that document the psychological effects of persecution, violence, abuse, and loss, presented in a clear, court-ready report that meets USCIS and immigration court standards. My clinical foundation is in the treatment of trauma, which is the core of what these evaluations require: not only naming a diagnosis, but explaining how trauma shapes memory, emotion, and the way a person tells their story.

What a forensic evaluation is

A forensic immigration evaluation is not therapy. It is a focused clinical assessment prepared for a legal purpose. The goal is objective documentation: a professional account of a person's psychological state and how it connects to the experiences underlying their case. In many immigration matters, independent evidence of what a person endured is unavailable. A well-prepared evaluation helps fill that gap with expert clinical documentation.

Cases I evaluate

I conduct evaluations for adult clients in the following case types:

  • Asylum

  • Hardship waivers (I-601 and I-601A)

  • VAWA (Violence Against Women Act)

  • U Visa T Visa

Farsi-language evaluations

I interview clients directly in Farsi, without an interpreter. For Farsi-speaking applicants, this means the evaluation captures their account accurately and with cultural context, and removes the cost and distortion that interpretation can introduce. This is a service few forensic evaluators in California can offer.

The process

  1. Initial consultation with the referring attorney to understand the case and the legal questions involved.

  2. Clinical interview with the client, conducted in person or by secure video, in English or Farsi.

  3. Review of relevant records.

  4. A detailed written report, anchored to DSM-5 criteria and prepared to meet USCIS and court standards, delivered to the attorney.

  5. Expert testimony available when a case proceeds to hearing.

For attorneys

I work closely with immigration attorneys to produce reports that are clinically sound, clearly written, and defensible. I welcome a brief call to discuss whether I am a good fit for your client, and I am glad to review a current case at no cost so you can see how I work.