Immigration Psychological Evaluations Across California
Doctoral-level psychological evaluations for attorneys and immigration applicants across California. Statewide telehealth from Santa Clarita; in-person available across Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Reports usually in 5 to 7 business days.
records
with a forensic medical evaluation
from interview to report
experience
Not every evaluator can take every case
After Urias-Orellana v. Bondi (March 2026), federal appeals courts have to defer to the immigration judge’s findings on persecution, so a denial is hard to overturn on appeal. The immigration judge in that case specifically noted the absence of any “medical, psychiatric, or psychological evaluations” in the record, and by the appeal stage that kind of evidence is very hard to add.
Doctoral-level evaluator
Doctor of Psychology credential. Form N-648 can only be signed by a medical doctor or a licensed clinical psychologist, so a social worker, marriage and family therapist or counselor can't complete it. Competency evaluations lean on the cognitive and psychological testing a doctoral psychologist is trained to give.
9+ years in high-security clinical settings
Over nine years working in high-security forensic clinical settings. The training that comes with that environment carries over directly into immigration cases: high-stakes psychological assessment, risk evaluation, and forensic report writing.
Documents what words cannot
Judges often point to inconsistencies when they deny a case. Trauma can affect how memories are stored and recalled: recall can come back in pieces, with gaps, and people may steer away from the worst parts. A psychological evaluation explains how trauma can affect memory and testimony, so the judge has clinical context for what they're hearing.
Confidential
Your records are protected under California medical privacy law and are encrypted. We do not share your file with immigration enforcement without your authorization, unless the law requires it (for example, a court order), and you and your attorney decide what gets filed and when. Privacy details
Forensic report usually delivered in 5 to 7 business days
Reports are usually delivered 5 to 7 business days after your clinical interview. Rush options are available for hearing deadlines.
First contact
Tell us about your case using the form below, in any language. Dr. Mantonya personally reviews every inquiry and replies with next steps.
Clinical interview
A trauma-informed interview of about 90 minutes via secure telehealth or in person, with interpreter support throughout.
Testing & report
Validated testing battery plus a written clinical report with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) diagnoses where they apply and case-specific findings. Reasonable revisions within the scope of the evaluation are included.
Flat fees. No hidden charges.
Reduced-fee evaluations may be available through California legal aid organizations.
Frequently asked questions
Tap a question to expand.
What is a psychological evaluation for immigration?
A clinical assessment by a licensed psychologist that documents how persecution, abuse, or trauma has affected your mental health. It includes a clinical interview (usually about 90 minutes), validated psychological testing (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and others), and a written report with DSM-5-TR diagnoses. A Physicians for Human Rights study of 2,584 cases from its own network that received forensic medical evaluations, 2008 to 2018 (Atkinson et al., 2021), found that 81.6% were granted relief, most of them asylum, versus a 42.4% national asylum grant rate. The association is correlational and comes from PHR-network cases.
How much does an immigration psychological evaluation cost?
Flat fees range from $1,500 to $2,500 depending on case type. Asylum and VAWA are $2,000, U-Visa is $1,800, hardship waivers are $2,500, and N-648 disability waivers are $1,500. Rush options and reduced-fee evaluations through California legal aid organizations may be available.
Can Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access my evaluation records?
Not automatically. We keep your information confidential and encrypted, and we do not share it with immigration enforcement without your authorization, unless the law requires it. An immigration enforcement subpoena is not self-enforcing: if a records holder does not comply, the agency has to ask a federal court for an order (Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 235(d)(4)). Because a forensic evaluation is prepared to be filed in your immigration case, ask your immigration attorney about the specific legal protections that apply to your records.
Can the evaluation be done via telehealth?
Yes. All evaluations can be conducted via secure HIPAA-compliant telehealth from anywhere in California. Telehealth evaluations are routinely submitted to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and immigration courts. In-person evaluations are available by request in the Los Angeles area, including Santa Clarita and the San Fernando Valley.
Do I need an attorney to get an evaluation?
No. Attorneys often request these evaluations, but individuals can contact us directly. If you don’t have an attorney yet, we can help connect you with immigration legal services in California. The evaluation is most effective when coordinated with your legal strategy.
Is interpretation available in other languages?
Yes. Dr. Mantonya conducts evaluations in English. Professional interpretation is available for almost any language.
Contact us
Get in touch
Call, email, or use the form. Whatever's easiest for you.
Phone
Location
Santa Clarita, CA
Statewide telehealth available
What happens next
Dr. Mantonya replies with next steps
Send us a message
We keep every inquiry confidential. We do not share anything you send with immigration enforcement without your authorization unless the law requires it, and you may write to us in English or in your own language.