Immigration Psychological Evaluations

Purpose

Beacon Behavioral Health provides independent, trauma-informed psychological evaluations to support immigration relief applications. Evaluations are conducted by licensed clinicians with attention to clinical accuracy, ethical standards, and the documentation needs of USCIS and immigration court.

Case Types Accepted

Asylum
VAWA (Violence Against Women Act)
U Visa
T Visa
Hardship Waivers (I-601 / I-601A)

Evaluation Structure

Most evaluations are completed in a single comprehensive session, followed by preparation of a detailed written report.\
Evaluations include: - Comprehensive clinical interview - Trauma-informed psychological assessment - Review of relevant psychosocial history - Assessment of mental health symptoms and functional impact - Clinical formulation linked to the legal relief sought
Written reports are prepared specifically for immigration purposes and commonly exceed 20 pages, depending on case complexity.

Report Focus

Reports may address, as clinically indicated: - Psychological impact of trauma, abuse, persecution, or hardship - Consistency of reported symptoms with known trauma responses - Functional impairment and daily impact - Nexus between psychological findings and immigration relief criteria

Clinical opinions are based on evaluation findings and professional judgment.

Turnaround Time

Standard report completion: 5–7 business days following the evaluation session
Expedited options may be available upon request, subject to availability

Ethical Standards

Beacon Behavioral Health adheres to professional and ethical guidelines, including: - Clear separation between evaluation and treatment roles - Informed consent for all evaluation services - Confidential handling and secure storage of records - Trauma-informed and culturally responsive care

The clinician who conducts an immigration evaluation does not provide ongoing therapy to the same individual. When counseling services are requested, they are provided by a separate clinician.

Telehealth and States Served

All evaluations are conducted via secure telehealth platforms, allowing clients to access services across multiple U.S. states.

States Served

Services are currently available in the following states:

English & Spanish-speaking Clinician:

Alabama • Arizona • Arkansas • Florida • Iowa • Mississippi • Nebraska • New Jersey • Texas

English-speaking Clinician:

Colorado • Indiana • Maine • Massachusetts • Minnesota • New Hampshire • New Mexico • Ohio • Washington • Wisconsin

If interpretation is needed, we can help clients connect with professional interpretation services so they feel supported and clearly understood during the evaluation.

Availability may vary by clinician and state. Please contact us to confirm current openings.

Fees

Fees are charged as flat rates and vary based on case type and complexity.

Most immigration psychological evaluations currently range between $650 and $850.

A current fee schedule and a Good Faith Estimate are available upon request. Fees are always discussed before scheduling.

Clinician Bios

Melinda Ortega LCSW-S

Melinda Ortega is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisor with more than 14 years of experience in mental health care. She holds a Master's of Social Work from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work.

Ms. Ortega began her career within the Memorial Hermann Hospital System, working extensively with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness, complex trauma, and crisis presentations. She is the founder of Beacon Behavioral Health and focuses her practice on immigration-related psychological evaluations, including asylum, VAWA, U Visa, T Visa, and extreme hardship waiver cases. She has completed advanced training through The Immigration Evaluation Training Center.

Amy Padgett is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Supervisor with over 18 years of experience in medical and behavioral health settings. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of North Texas and a Master of Social Work from the University of Houston.

Her clinical background includes crisis intervention at a Level I trauma center, emergency psychiatric evaluations with mobile crisis teams, and psychological evaluations within a heart transplant program. At Beacon Behavioral Health, Ms. Padgett specializes in immigration psychological evaluations, providing trauma-informed and culturally responsive assessments for asylum, VAWA, U Visa, T Visa, and hardship waiver cases.

Amy Padgett - LCSW

Referrals & Contact

Attorneys and legal staff may contact Beacon Behavioral Health to:

Request a fee schedule
Confirm availability
Coordinate referrals
Ask general questions about the evaluation process

Please include the type of immigration case when reaching out.

713-489-5986

Info@BeaconBehavioralHealth.org

Disclaimer

Psychological evaluations are provided solely for immigration documentation purposes and do not automatically create an ongoing therapeutic relationship. Counseling services, if requested, are provided separately by a different clinician.

Evaluations are conducted by licensed clinicians within their authorized jurisdictions and in accordance with professional and ethical standards.

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