Immigration Evaluation Resources

Twelve in-depth guides covering the legal standards, clinical methodology, and practical steps behind the main immigration psychological evaluations. Written by a licensed California clinical psychologist for attorneys and the applicants they represent.

About the author: Dr. Julia Mantonya is a California-licensed clinical psychologist (Board of Psychology PSY28494) with nine-plus years of clinical experience. These guides are our best effort to explain a fast-moving area in plain language. Immigration law and policy change quickly, so treat everything here as a starting point: it may already be out of date, and none of it is legal advice or a substitute for checking the details yourself. Verify everything independently, and rely on your immigration attorney for decisions about your case. Read more on the About page.

Letters of Support & Character Documentation

How to write, edit, and submit the support letters that often accompany humanitarian and waiver cases. Templates included.

Pillar guide

Letter of Support for Immigration: 5 Sample Letters

Five fillable letter templates (family or friend, employer, community leader, I-751 marriage affidavit, VAWA) with the 28 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 1746 declaration language and filing tips for USCIS and immigration court.
N-400, Cancellation, VAWA

Good Moral Character Letter: 7 Immigration Samples

Covers the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) good moral character policy on the totality of circumstances, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 335(a) neighborhood investigations, and what the USCIS Policy Manual now asks of naturalization character letters.
I-601, I-601A

Hardship Letter for Immigration (I-601/I-601A)

Cervantes-Gonzalez factors and the two hardship scenarios USCIS considers (separation and relocation). Four fillable letter templates.

Asylum & Humanitarian Relief

Asylum, withholding of removal, Convention Against Torture (CAT), and Convention-based protection paths. How psychological evaluations document trauma and its psychological impact.

VAWA I-360

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Evidence Guide: Self-Petition Without Police Reports

USCIS now asks for detailed, specific and reliable evidence. How to build the case on battery or extreme cruelty when formal records don't exist.
U-Visa I-918

U-Visa Evaluation Guide: 5-Factor Substantial Abuse

What the evaluation documents for the substantial physical or mental abuse requirement under INA 101(a)(15)(U)(i)(I) and 8 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) 214.14(b)(1). Standardized testing battery and factor mapping.
U-Visa overview

U-Visa Process Explained: A Plain-Language Guide

Beginner's overview, who qualifies, qualifying crimes, Form I-918 Supplement B, the timeline, and how a psychological evaluation fits in.
SIJS I-360

SIJS Evaluation Guide: Abuse, Neglect, Abandonment

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status predicate orders across California family, probate, and juvenile courts. Matter of Pinzon Rozo continuance standard.

Defensive Relief & Deportation Defense

Cancellation of removal, motions, criminal conviction issues, and related topics when a respondent is already in proceedings.

EOIR-42B

Cancellation of Removal (EOIR-42B): 4 Requirements Guide

Ordinary non-LPR cancellation: 10-year presence, good moral character, no disqualifying offenses, and exceptional and extremely unusual hardship, and key case law.
212(h), Cancellation, N-648

Criminal Convictions & Immigration Evaluations

How a psychological evaluation can support 212(h) waivers, cancellation cases and N-648 when there's a criminal record. Castillo-Perez driving under the influence (DUI) framework, PC 1473.7 vacatur.

Naturalization & Status Changes

Becoming a citizen and navigating major policy shifts like CHNV parole termination.

N-400 Medical Certification

N-648 Disability Waiver Guide

The English/civics exception for naturalization applicants with qualifying medical conditions. USCIS guidance, the nexus explanation, who can sign.
Parole, Asylum, Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

CHNV Parole Termination: Options for People Affected

Relief pathways for Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan parolees whose parole was terminated. Country-by-country analysis.

Know Your Rights

What every immigrant should know about interacting with federal enforcement, regardless of status.

Rights

What to Do If Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Comes to Your Door: Rights Guide

Administrative vs. judicial warrants, Fifth Amendment rights, California SB 54 sanctuary-state protections. What to say, and what not to say.

Reference

Comparison and quick reference for eight kinds of immigration cases that use a psychological evaluation, and the terms you will encounter.

Comparison

Comparing Immigration Relief Types: An 8-Type Guide

Side-by-side matrix of asylum, VAWA, U-visa, T-visa, I-601 hardship, cancellation, N-648, and competency. Eligibility, fees, timing, and decision logic for each.
Glossary

Immigration Evaluation Glossary: 115 Terms Defined

Plain-English definitions for clinical instruments (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7)), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) diagnoses, USCIS forms (I-601, EOIR-42B, N-648), and Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and Attorney General precedent (Matter of M-A-M-, Cervantes-Gonzalez, Castillo-Perez).