How Much Does an Immigration Evaluation Cost?
At Neema Counseling, an immigration evaluation costs $750 for extreme hardship (I-601 and I-601A), VAWA, U visa, and T visa cases, and $900 for asylum cases. The fee is flat. It covers the interviews, review of the documents your attorney sends, and the written report. Evaluations are done by video for clients anywhere in Texas or Colorado.
If you are comparing prices, it helps to know what goes into the fee and why one evaluator may charge very differently from another.
Many people search for this as an "immigration psychological evaluation." Ours are immigration mental health evaluations written by Licensed Professional Counselors, not psychologists. The section below on counselors and psychologists explains when that difference matters for your case.
What does the fee include?
Our fee covers the whole evaluation from start to finish:
- The interviews. Usually two video meetings, sometimes three, depending on the case and whether family members are also interviewed.
- Document review. Your declaration, if one has been written, and anything else your attorney thinks is relevant.
- The written report. A clear, specific account of what the evaluator observed, written so an attorney, an officer, or a judge can follow it.
There are no separate charges for the report or for reviewing documents.
How much does a U visa evaluation cost?
A U visa evaluation at Neema is $750. The same fee applies to T visa evaluations, VAWA evaluations, and extreme hardship evaluations. Asylum evaluations are $900 because they usually cover a longer history and a wider range of questions. You can read more about U visa evaluations on their own page.
Why do prices vary so much between evaluators?
Prices for immigration evaluations vary widely, and a few things drive most of the difference:
- Who writes it. Some evaluations are written by licensed counselors or social workers, others by psychologists. Psychologists who add formal psychological testing usually charge more, because testing takes additional time to give, score, and interpret.
- How many people are interviewed. A hardship case may include the spouse or children, which adds interview time.
- Language. An evaluation done through an interpreter takes longer. At Neema, Spanish evaluations are usually conducted directly by a bilingual counselor.
- Turnaround. A rushed report costs more almost everywhere.
- What is included. Some providers charge separately for document review or for the report itself. Ask what the quoted price covers before you compare.
Do I need a psychologist, or will a counselor's evaluation work?
For most cases, a psychosocial and mental health evaluation from a licensed counselor is what the attorney needs. Our evaluations are written by Licensed Professional Counselors. If your case calls for formal psychological testing or testimony from a psychologist, we will tell you up front and refer you to a colleague who can provide it.
The right answer depends on your case, so it is worth asking your attorney before you schedule. We wrote more about this in does an immigration evaluation have to be done by a psychologist?
Does insurance pay for an immigration evaluation?
Usually not. Health insurance pays for treatment that is medically necessary, and an evaluation written for an immigration case is not treatment. Our evaluation fees are flat, and insurance is not billed for them. If you would like counseling during or after your case, that is separate, and insurance may help with it. See our rates and insurance page.
Is the evaluation worth the cost?
That is a question to talk through with your attorney, because every case is different. Research gives some context. In a study of more than 2,500 people who received forensic medical evaluations through a national volunteer network between 2008 and 2018, 81.6 percent had a positive outcome in their case, compared with a national asylum grant rate of 42.4 percent over the same period. That study did not compare matched groups, so it cannot prove the evaluations caused the difference. A review in the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law describes how mental health evaluators help decision-makers understand trauma, delays in filing, and the mental health effects of returning home.
An evaluation does not guarantee any outcome. The decision belongs to USCIS or an immigration judge.
How long does it take, and can it be faster?
Most evaluations take three to five weeks. If your filing deadline is close, an expedited report may be possible for an additional fee, depending on clinician availability. Tell us your deadline when you first reach out.
Who conducts the evaluation?
Fabian Armenta, LPC and Lauren Jones, LPC-S, both Licensed Professional Counselors at Neema Counseling. Fabian conducts evaluations in Spanish. Lauren also works with Spanish-speaking clients, with Elvia Delgado, LPC-Associate (supervised by Lauren Jones, LPC-S), assisting with translation.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free consultation for evaluations? No. Our free 15-minute consultation is for counseling. To begin an evaluation, call 512.669.5701 or schedule directly.
Does the price change by city? No. The fee is the same anywhere in Texas or Colorado, because every evaluation is done by video.
What does an asylum evaluation cost? $900. Asylum evaluations usually cover a longer history and a wider range of questions than other evaluation types.
Do I need an attorney first? It is strongly recommended. The report is written to address what your attorney's filing needs.
How to get started
Call us at 512.669.5701 or schedule an evaluation. If you are an attorney referring a client, you are welcome to call and ask for Lauren directly. You can also read about immigration evaluations in Houston, in Austin, or all of our immigration services.
Written by Lauren Jones, LPC-S, Director of Neema Counseling.
This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Your immigration attorney handles the legal side of your case. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or call 911.
References
Atkinson, H. G., Wyka, K., Hampton, K., Seno, C. L., Yim, E. T., Ottenheimer, D., & Arastu, N. S. (2021). Impact of forensic medical evaluations on immigration relief grant rates and correlates of outcomes in the United States. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 84, 102272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2021.102272
Meffert, S. M., Musalo, K., McNiel, D. E., & Binder, R. L. (2010). The role of mental health professionals in political asylum processing. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 38(4), 479–489. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21156906/