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MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS
FOR IMMIGRATION CASES

I'm Trinidad Zuluaga, a bilingual licensed psychotherapist who has completed more than 300 psychological evaluations for VAWA, asylum, hardship waiver, U Visa, and T Visa cases.

I work with clients in English and Spanish, in person in Orlando, FL, and by telehealth in Washington, Nevada, and Oregon.

Reports are typically delivered in 3 to 8 business days, with 24-hour expedited options available, and I collaborate directly with your attorney at every step.

VAWA

Asylum

U Visa

T Visa

Hardship Waiver

What is a Mental Health Evaluation for Immigration Cases?

A mental health evaluation for an immigration case is a clinical report written by a licensed mental health professional.

It explains how trauma, abuse, or the fear of returning to your home country has affected you, in terms that an immigration judge or officer can use as evidence.​

If you're applying for a benefit like VAWA, asylum, a hardship waiver, or a U or T Visa, this is often the report your attorney asks you to get. Your case depends on more than paperwork. It depends on showing the real, lived impact of what you and your family have been through, and that's something only a clinical evaluation can document properly.

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Bilingual, English and Spanish

No interpreter needed. We work in whichever language feels most natural to you.

Telehealth accepted

Video sessions in WA, NV, and OR are accepted as supporting evidence in immigration cases.

3 to 8 business day turnaround

Standard delivery, with a 24-hour expedited option when your deadline is tight.

Direct attorney collaboration

I stay in contact with your attorney throughout the process.

Why do these evaluations matter?

Judges and immigration officers are not mental health professionals. They rely on a clinical evaluation to understand what a case file alone cannot show: what the abuse, the trafficking, the persecution, or the possibility of a loved one's deportation has actually done to a person's mental health and daily life.

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A well-documented evaluation can be the difference between a case that reads as a list of facts and one that shows a judge exactly why those facts matter. That's the part of my work I take most seriously.

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Immigration Evaluations I Complete

Each type of case has its own legal standard, and I write every evaluation to match it. Here's what each one involves.

VAWA Evaluations

VAWA stands for the Violence Against Women Act, and despite the name, VAWA protections apply to both women and men. If you were abused by a spouse, a partner, or another family member with legal status, you may be able to self-petition without their involvement or knowledge.

Who This Evaluation Is For:

 

  • Spouses, ex-spouses, or intended spouses of an abuser with legal status

  • Children who experienced abuse from a parent with legal status

  • Parents who experienced abuse from an adult child with legal status

  • Anyone self-petitioning without their abuser's knowledge or involvement

What the Evaluation Documents:

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  • The emotional and psychological effects of the abuse

  • Patterns of control, isolation, or manipulation, not just physical harm

  • The impact on your sense of safety, trust, and daily functioning

  • How the abuse continues to shape your mental health today

Asylum Evaluations

If you're seeking asylum because of violence, persecution, or danger you faced in your home country, your attorney may need to establish credible fear as part of your case. I write these evaluations to reflect both what happened to you and how it continues to affect you now, since asylum cases often depend on showing that the fear is current, not just something in the past.

Who This Evaluation Is For:

 

  • Individuals fleeing violence, persecution, or political danger

  • Cases where credible fear needs to be clinically documented

  • Cases where both past trauma and current fear of return matter to the outcome

What the Evaluation Documents:

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  • The psychological impact of the persecution or violence experienced

  • Symptoms consistent with trauma, such as PTSD or chronic anxiety

  • The ongoing, present-day fear of returning home

  • How the experience continues to affect daily life

Extreme Hardship Waiver Evaluations (I-601 / I-601A)

A hardship waiver case usually comes down to one question: what would happen to a qualifying relative -a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or child- if their family member were deported or denied entry. The legal standard requires showing extreme hardship to a qualifying relative, and that's exactly what this evaluation is built to demonstrate.

Who This Evaluation Is For:

 

  • U.S. citizens or lawful permanent resident spouses, parents, or children (qualifying relatives)

  • I-601 waiver applications

  • I-601A provisional waiver applications

What the Evaluation Documents:

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  • Extreme hardship to the qualifying relative if separation occurs

  • The emotional impact of possible relocation to an unfamiliar country

  • Anxiety, depression, or other effects tied to the uncertainty of the case

  • How the qualifying relative's daily life and stability would be affected

U Visa Evaluations

The U Visa is for victims of serious crimes committed in the United States who have cooperated with law enforcement. I focus on connecting the specific crime to its specific psychological effects, since that connection is often what makes a U Visa case persuasive.

Who This Evaluation Is For:

 

  • Victims of qualifying crimes committed in the United States

  • Individuals who have cooperated, or are willing to cooperate, with law enforcement

What the Evaluation Documents:

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  • Psychological harm directly connected to the crime

  • Symptoms such as anxiety, fear, or trauma responses tied to the incident

  • The impact on your sense of safety, trust, and control

  • How the experience has affected your daily functioning since the crime

T Visa Evaluations

The T Visa protects survivors of human trafficking. These cases often involve trauma that's harder to name than physical abuse: coercion, manipulation, debt bondage, and the slow erosion of a person's ability to leave.

Who This Evaluation Is For:

 

  • Survivors of labor or sex trafficking

  • Individuals affected by coercion, debt bondage, or manipulation, not only physical confinement

What the Evaluation Documents:

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  • The psychological effects of exploitation and coercion

  • Trauma responses that may make it difficult to disclose details clearly

  • Confusion, shame, or fear that often accompany trafficking experiences

  • How the experience continues to affect emotional wellbeing

How the Process Works

1

Initial Consultation

We start with a short conversation about your case so I can understand what you need and confirm which type of evaluation applies.

2

Scheduling & Intake

Once we schedule your appointment, you'll receive intake forms to complete beforehand. This helps us make the most of our time together.

3

Clinical Interview

We meet for a comprehensive interview, usually 2 to 3 hours, in person or by telehealth.

4

Report Preparation

I review everything from our interview and integrate clinical findings and relevant research into your report.

5

Report Delivery

Your evaluation is delivered in 3 to 8 business days. If you're working against a tighter deadline, a 24-hour expedited option is available.

Appointments are typically available within 48 hours, including Saturdays and Sundays, because I know legal deadlines don't wait.

Fees

$1100 - $1300

$USD​

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Payment methods:

Credit card, cash, or check

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Payment plan:

$500 deposit + flexible installments.

Flat fee, based on the complexity of your case. No hidden charges.

Inculdes

  • Turnaround in 5 business days

  • All clinical sessions and psychological assessments

  • A 25- to 30-page evaluation report

  • Direct communication with your attorney for any needed changes

  • Unlimited attorney-requested revisions for up to 1 year

  • One court appearance if needed, up to 4 hours included

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* This description is for our premium option priced at $1300. For more affordable options, please feel free to contact me.

Why Clients and Attorneys Trust This Work

I'm an immigrant myself, born and raised in Medellín, Colombia, and I went through the U.S. immigration process personally. I know what it feels like to have your future depend on how well your story is understood, and I bring that awareness into every evaluation I write.

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I'm bilingual, so Spanish-speaking clients can work with me directly, without a translator. I've completed more than 300 evaluations with my team across VAWA, asylum, hardship waiver, U Visa, and T Visa cases, and immigration attorneys across multiple states refer clients to me for that reason. My reports are thorough (25 to 30 pages), grounded in current research, and delivered on the timelines your case needs.

 

I also take on complex cases that some evaluators turn away, including clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and other significant mental health conditions.

Learn more about my background and approach→

What Clients Say

R.N., WA.

"I want to recommend Trinidad Zuluaga and her team. They are very kind, and the psychologist is very attentive, patient and highly professional. I also appreciated her work schedule: they offer appointments on saturdays as well. Highly reccomended."

L.C., WA.

"I’d like to recommend psychologist Trinidad Zuluaga and her team for their strong professional ethics and experience. They were a very positive part of my process. Thank you for your great work!"

E.A., WA.

"Trinidad and her team made me feel safe and understood from the very beginning. They took the time to listen and put together an evaluation that felt true to my story. They made everything clear and supportive. I couldn’t recommend them more".

Frequently Asked Questions

For Immigration Attorneys

I'm a licensed bilingual psychotherapist with a Master's in Counseling Psychology from Bastyr University and research experience at Harvard University. I've spent more than 12 years working with trauma, including more than 5 years focused specifically on psychological immigration evaluations. I write every report to the specific legal standard your client's case requires, whether that's extreme hardship to a qualifying relative, credible fear, or the VAWA self-petition standard, not a generic clinical summary.

Here's what that looks like in practice:

  • Court appearance if needed, including testimony, up to 4 hours included

  • Direct communication with you throughout the process

  • Evaluations completed in English and Spanish, no interpreter needed

  • Experience with complex cases some evaluators turn away, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and other significant mental health conditions

  • More than 300 evaluations completed across VAWA, asylum, hardship waiver, U Visa, and T Visa cases

  • Every report written to the specific legal standard of your client's case

  • 25- to 30-page reports, clinically grounded and integrated with current research

  • Standard turnaround of 3 to 8 business days, with a 24-hour expedited option

  • Unlimited attorney-requested revisions for up to 1 year after delivery​

To discuss a referral, an active case, or how a report would address your client's specific legal standard, reach out directly.

 

Call: +1 206 202 6012

Email: immigration.evaluations.co@gmail.com

Don't Have a Lawyer Yet?

That's more common than you'd think, and it's not a problem. I work with multiple immigration law firms and know their areas of focus well enough to point you toward someone who fits your case. Reach out, and I'll help connect you with the right attorney.

Contact me to get started →

Ready to Talk About Your Case?

The first step is a brief consultation. We'll talk about what you're facing, answer your questions, and figure out which evaluation fits your situation. Appointments are typically available within 48 hours, including weekends.

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