Vida Serena
Mental Health Immigration Evaluations
Appointments available · Now accepting clients
Independent clinical evaluations in English and Spanish for adults and adolescents age 12 and older.
In-person visits in Sandy, Utah, and virtual appointments throughout the state for clients physically located in Utah during the evaluation.
Understanding your experiences with care and respect
Immigration concerns can affect your sense of safety, your relationships, and everyday life. Talking about painful experiences or the possibility of family separation can feel intimidating—especially when you are unsure what an evaluation means.
A mental health immigration evaluation examines relevant experiences, emotional health, and daily functioning. The evaluator prepares an independent clinical report that may be used as supporting evidence in an immigration matter. It is not a judgment of your worth or whether you deserve to be here.
What does an evaluation involve?
The process begins by clarifying who is being evaluated and what clinical questions the evaluation should address. It may include interviews, review of relevant records, appropriate assessment measures, and information from other people when authorized and useful.
The report explains the findings, the information supporting them, and any important limitations. A diagnosis may be included when supported by the assessment; a referral does not mean a diagnosis has already been decided. An evaluation is different from ongoing therapy and does not provide legal representation.
How evaluations relate to different immigration matters
The purpose varies by case. These descriptions explain possible clinical roles; they do not establish eligibility or mean that every case requires an evaluation. A qualified immigration attorney or authorized legal representative can identify the applicable legal questions.
Extreme hardship waivers: I-601 and I-601A
For certain hardship-waiver cases, the evaluation focuses on a qualifying family member and how separation from the applicant—or relocation to remain together—could affect that person's mental health and daily functioning.
Relevant circumstances may include caregiving responsibilities, financial pressures, existing health concerns, access to care, and family or community support. The clinical task is to explain how those circumstances relate to the person's psychological well-being and functioning, rather than simply list symptoms. The qualifying relative and legal standard depend on the particular waiver.
Asylum, including political asylum
An evaluation may document the psychological effects of reported persecution, trauma, or fear of return, and how these experiences affect daily life. Clinical findings contribute information; the evaluator does not decide legal eligibility or whether asylum will be granted.
VAWA petitions
An evaluation may examine the psychological effects of reported abuse, coercion, or extreme cruelty. VAWA protections are not limited to women. A qualified legal representative can explain how the person's circumstances relate to the applicable requirements.
U visas
An evaluation may document psychological effects associated with reported qualifying criminal victimization. A clinical report does not replace the required law-enforcement certification or determine U-visa eligibility.
T visas
An evaluation may address mental health effects associated with reported human trafficking and other clinical questions relevant to the referral. T visas have their own legal framework and are separate from U visas.
Cancellation of removal
An evaluation may address relevant mental health and family-impact questions in an immigration-court matter. The person to be evaluated and the clinical questions depend on the specific form of relief identified by counsel; the hardship standard should not be assumed to be the same as an I-601/I-601A waiver.
Inadmissibility-related behavioral assessments
Some referrals seek clinical information about behavior, mental health, and functioning. These require individual review of the requested role, professional qualifications, and any medical-referral requirements. A supporting behavioral assessment does not replace an immigration medical examination or determine whether someone is legally admissible.
Questions clients often ask
Do I need an attorney to request an evaluation?
You may request an evaluation without an attorney. Before accepting the work, the evaluator needs to understand its purpose and determine whether an appropriate clinical assessment can be provided. Vida Serena does not select immigration applications or provide legal advice. A qualified legal representative can help you understand whether an evaluation would be useful and how it might be used.
Will the report guarantee approval?
No. The report presents independent clinical findings. An evaluation is not required in every immigration case, and its findings may or may not support the outcome you hope for. Immigration decisions belong to the responsible government agency or court.
Can I speak Spanish during the evaluation?
Interviews are available in English and Spanish. Interview language, report language, and written translation are separate arrangements. Tell us your preferred language and any communication needs when you inquire.
Who receives the report?
Before the evaluation, the practice explains intended recipients, appropriate permissions, and the limits of confidentiality. Paying for an evaluation does not automatically give someone access to the report. For adolescents, consent and information-sharing arrangements require additional clarification.
How long does it take, and what does it cost?
Scope, fees, and scheduling are discussed before booking. The work needed varies with the clinical question, records, and individual circumstances. Please identify any requested report date early so feasibility can be reviewed.
Is this an immigration medical examination?
No. This service concerns mental health assessment and reporting. It does not provide the official I-693 immigration medical examination or N-648 disability certification.
Information for attorneys and authorized representatives
Clear referrals help identify the appropriate clinical scope. An initial inquiry can identify the case category, person to be evaluated, age, preferred language, current location, specific clinical questions, and requested report date.
For hardship matters, please identify the applicable waiver, qualifying relative, and relevant separation or relocation scenarios. For other matters, identify the clinical issues on which evidence would be useful. Any testimony or supplemental work should be discussed separately rather than assumed to be included.
Legal representatives may identify factual errors, unclear language, or unanswered referral questions. Clinical methods, findings, and conclusions remain the evaluator's responsibility. Relevant discrepancies and limitations are addressed rather than removed to obtain a preferred conclusion.
Vida Serena is accepting referrals. Contact us to discuss the clinical question, case suitability, and scheduling. Do not send medical records, immigration identifiers, or detailed trauma histories through a general website contact form. Ask about an appropriate secure channel before transmitting sensitive material.
Guides for your next step
Practical information to help you prepare questions and understand your options before getting in touch.
- Hardship Waiver Evaluations: Separation, Relocation, and Daily Life
- Immigration Mental Health Evaluations: A Referral Guide for Attorneys
- What to Expect at an Immigration Mental Health Evaluation in Utah
- Asylum Mental Health Evaluations: What Clients and Attorneys Should Know
- Mental Health Evaluations for U-Visa Cases
Request an evaluation appointment
Appointments are available. Contact us to discuss your evaluation and request an appointment. Scope, fees, and scheduling are discussed before booking. Keep your inquiry general; ask about an appropriate channel for sensitive information.