The Clinical Evidence Your Immigration Case Needs
Doctoral-level psychological evaluations for attorneys and people across California. Telehealth statewide from Santa Clarita, serving Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, and all of California. Reports in 5-7 days.
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Not All Evaluators Are Equal
In Urias-Orellana v. Bondi (March 2026), the Supreme Court unanimously held that appeals courts must apply the substantial-evidence standard when reviewing persecution findings — making it harder to overturn an immigration judge's denial on appeal. The immigration judge in that case specifically noted the absence of any "medical, psychiatric, or psychological evaluations" in the record. The takeaway: the strongest clinical evidence needs to be in the record at the first hearing, not later. A doctoral-level evaluation with standardized testing carries more weight than an interview-only report from a master's-level clinician.
PsyD Doctoral-Level Evaluator
Doctor of Psychology credential. N-648 disability waivers and competency evaluations specifically require a doctoral-level psychologist. The highest credentialing standard for your case.
9+ Years in High-Security Clinical Settings
Over nine years of experience in high-security forensic clinical settings. Trained in high-stakes psychological assessments, risk evaluation, and forensic report writing.
Documents What Words Cannot
Judges frequently cite inconsistency as grounds for denial. Trauma disrupts the brain's memory encoding. Recall becomes fragmented, gaps appear, and avoidance takes over. A psychological evaluation provides the clinical framework that explains these behaviors as documented trauma responses, not deception.
Completely Confidential
Protected by psychotherapist-patient privilege and California law. We will never share your records with ICE, CBP, or any government agency. All data encrypted. Privacy details
About Dr. Mantonya: Dr. Julia Mantonya is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY28494) with over nine years of forensic assessment experience in high-security clinical settings. She has worked with serious mental illness populations in state facilities. Her Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) credential means she can sign N-648 disability waivers and competency evaluations that master's-level clinicians cannot. She conducts all evaluations personally via secure telehealth from Santa Clarita, serving clients and attorneys across California. Interpretation in any language is always included at no extra cost.
From First Contact to Report in 5-7 Days
Most providers take 2 to 4 weeks. We deliver a complete evaluation in 5 to 7 business days. Rush options available for urgent filing deadlines.
Contact Us
Reach out via email, phone, or the form below with your case type and timeline. Attorneys can submit a referral; people can contact us directly. We typically respond within 1-2 business days.
Records Review
Full review of declarations, legal filings, medical records, and any supporting documentation provided by counsel.
Clinical Interview
90-120 minute clinical interview via secure telehealth or in person. Trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach with interpreter support.
Testing & Report
Validated testing battery — PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) — plus a 15-25 page clinical report with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) diagnoses, psychometric results, and case-specific conclusions.
Review & Revisions
Draft shared with referring attorney. Revisions, clarifications, and supplemental opinions at no additional charge. Unlimited revisions until you are satisfied.
Updates & Addendums
If case law changes, new evidence emerges, or your case needs updating before a hearing, we provide addendums and amended reports. Your evaluation stays current for as long as you need it.
Don't have an attorney yet? Contact us and we can help connect you with immigration legal services in California.
Transparent Pricing, No Hidden Fees
After the Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Urias-Orellana v. Bondi (March 2026) made it harder to overturn denials on appeal, the strongest clinical evidence needs to be in the record at the first hearing — not later.
Payment plans available. Reduced-fee evaluations may be available through California legal aid organizations.
Reduced-fee evaluations may be available through California legal aid organizations. Contact us to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 90- to 120-minute interview, validated psychological testing (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and others), and a 15- to 25-page report with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) diagnoses. A Physicians for Human Rights study of 2,584 asylum cases (Atkinson et al., 2021) found that cases that included a psychological evaluation were granted at 81.6%, compared to 42.4% for cases without one. The association is correlational and was observed in asylum cases specifically.
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 legal aid organizations may be available.
Can ICE access my evaluation records?
No. Your records are protected by psychotherapist-patient privilege under federal law (Jaffee v. Redmond) and California Evidence Code 1014. ICE administrative subpoenas are not self-enforcing and cannot compel a psychologist to produce records without a court order. We will never voluntarily share your information with any government agency. Period. All records are encrypted with AES-256 at rest and TLS 1.3 in transit.
Can the evaluation be done via telehealth?
Yes. All evaluations can be conducted via secure telehealth that complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) from anywhere in California. Telehealth evaluations are fully accepted by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and immigration courts. In-person evaluations are available in the greater Los Angeles area.
Do I need an attorney to get an evaluation?
No. While most evaluations are referred by immigration attorneys, people 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 Spanish interpretation available?
Yes. Spanish interpretation is included at no additional cost for all evaluations. For other languages, professional interpreter services can be arranged.
Contact Us
We typically respond within 1-2 business days.
Get in Touch
Call, email, or use the form.
Phone
Location
Santa Clarita, CA
Statewide telehealth available
Response Time
Within 1-2 business days
Confidentiality
Protected by psychotherapist-patient privilege
Languages
Interpreter available in any language at no extra cost
Send Us a Message
All inquiries are strictly confidential.