A clear, step-by-step walkthrough of what happens from your first inquiry through delivery of the final forensic psychological report. The report usually follows within about 5-7 business days after the interview. Priority and emergency rush options are available for cases with imminent hearings or filing deadlines.
Quick answer
The process has six stages: (1) first contact and intake, (2) the private booking page (time, signatures, payment), (3) records review, (4) the 90-120 minute clinical evaluation interview, (5) forensic report, usually delivered within about 5-7 business days, and (6) attorney review and any RFE-driven addendums. The report usually follows within about 5-7 business days after the interview. Interpreter available if needed. One flat fee per case type. Contact us or call (818) 351-3354.
The six stages, explained
1
Tell us about your case
A few minutes to write
You tell us about your case through the contact form, in your own words and in any language. Dr. Mantonya reviews what you send and replies with next steps, including a private intake link if the case is a fit. What we need to learn is:
Confirm the case type fits the practice scope
Walk through what the evaluation will cover
Agree on the flat fee for your case type ($1,500 to $2,500)
Discuss the timeline relative to any hearing date or filing deadline
Determine whether priority or emergency rush is needed
No clinical work happens at this stage. The form is purely a fit-and-scope check. You can decline after our reply with no obligation, and no records are reviewed before a signed engagement.
2
Private booking page
After the intake review
After Dr. Mantonya reviews your intake and confirms fit, we send your private booking page. In one sitting you:
Pick a time for your evaluation session
Read and sign the engagement letter laying out the scope, flat fee, turnaround, and cancellation terms
Pay the flat fee for your case type by card or mobile wallet, processed securely
Everything you sign is completed on your private booking page before you pay: the engagement letter, the privacy-practices notice, the forensic informed consent, and any release of information (so we can communicate with your attorney). A brief background questionnaire and any assigned questionnaires arrive after booking, before your session.
3
Records review
Before the clinical interview
Before the clinical interview, Dr. Mantonya reviews the documentation specific to your case:
Personal declaration: your written narrative of the events at issue
Medical and mental-health records: prior treatment history, if any
Country conditions evidence (asylum cases): State Department reports, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Refworld data
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or immigration court filings: Notice to Appear, hearing notices, prior decisions
Case-specific documents: police reports (U-visa), trafficking certifications (T-visa), abuser status proof (Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)), qualifying-relative documentation (hardship/cancellation), N-400 records (N-648)
The review shows what the interview needs to cover. If important records are missing, we ask for them before the interview rather than discovering the gap during the report.
4
Clinical evaluation interview
At the time you picked
A 90 to 120 minute structured clinical interview conducted via secure HIPAA-compliant telehealth (or in person on request in the Los Angeles area). The interview covers:
Background and life history: family, education, work, immigration history
The events relevant to the case: persecution narrative, abuse history, hardship facts, trafficking experience, etc.
Current mental health symptoms: what you experience day-to-day
Functional impairment: how the events have affected work, sleep, relationships, parenting
Self-report questionnaires assigned to you (such as the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) for anxiety) are completed online on your private page before the session. Case-specific instruments (Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II) for dissociation, Trauma Symptom Inventory, Second Edition (TSI-2) for complex trauma, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for cognitive impairment, Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS) when the validity of reported symptoms needs checking) are added based on the clinical picture, and tests that must be supervised are given in the session.
The interview is trauma-informed throughout. You can pause, request a break, ask for a question to be repeated or rephrased, or request to skip a topic if recounting it is too distressing. Clients who prefer another language have a professional medical interpreter join the secure call when needed.
5
Forensic report delivered
Usually 5-7 business days after the interview
Dr. Mantonya writes the forensic psychological report and delivers it securely. Every report includes:
Identifying information and referral question
Background and history: narrative summary of the events and your life context
Mental status examination
Standardized testing results with severity scores
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) diagnostic formulation: clinical diagnoses with severity and chronicity
Functional impairment analysis
Clinical opinions on the questions your case raises: for example, the psychological effects of persecution or abuse, the impact of hardship on a family member, how a disability affects learning, or the abilities Matter of M-A-M- looks at for competency. Whether the findings meet the legal standard is for your attorney and the adjudicator to decide
If you elected priority rush (3 business days, +50%) or emergency rush (24 hours, +100%), the delivery accelerates accordingly.
6
Attorney review, revisions, and any RFE addendums
After delivery
After delivery, reasonable revisions within the scope of the evaluation are included at no additional charge; the findings stay Dr. Mantonya's independent clinical opinion:
Factual corrections: wrong date, misspelled name, etc.
Wording adjustments: attorney-requested clarifications or rephrasing
Clarification: explaining findings the report already contains
If USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) counsel challenges the evaluation, we provide an addendum or supplemental letter at no additional charge for issues the original report addressed. Significant new clinical work, for example, a fresh evaluation interview six months later because new symptoms have emerged, would be a separate addendum ($500), discussed before any work begins.
Note: This practice does not provide live court testimony. Written reports and addendums only.
What to have ready for the clinical interview
Photo identification
Quiet private location where you will not be interrupted
Stable internet connection
Device with camera and microphone (laptop, tablet, or phone)
Water and tissues nearby
Comfortable clothing
USCIS forms or court documents if relevant
Medical records if relevant
Names and dates for the events you will be asked about
Emergency contact: someone who can be available if needed
Frequently asked questions about the process
How long does the entire process take from first contact to delivered report?
It depends on the time you pick on your booking page. Dr. Mantonya gets back to you with next steps after reviewing your inquiry, and the report is usually delivered within about 5-7 business days after the interview (an estimate that depends on the records, testing and any translation). Priority rush (3 days for the report) and emergency rush (24 hours for the report) compress the back end.
What do I need to bring to the evaluation interview?
Photo identification, a quiet private location, a stable internet connection, and the device you will use (laptop, tablet, or phone with camera). Have water and tissues nearby, trauma-related interviews can be emotionally activating. Wear comfortable clothing. If your case requires it, have copies of your USCIS forms, hearing notices, or relevant medical records readily accessible. Clients who prefer another language can have a professional interpreter join the call if needed.
What is the clinical interview like?
It is a structured clinical conversation, not a cross-examination. Dr. Mantonya will ask about your history, the events relevant to your case, your current mental health symptoms, and how the events have affected your daily life. The interview is trauma-informed: you can pause, request a break, or move past a question if recounting it is too distressing. Most questionnaires are completed online before the session; some tests are given during it. The interview takes about 90-120 minutes. When needed, a professional interpreter joins the secure call.
Will my attorney be present during the evaluation?
No, attorneys do not attend the clinical interview, so that what you report is in your own words, without anyone else in the room. With your written authorization, your attorney receives the final report and can discuss it with Dr. Mantonya by phone or email after delivery; that consultation is included in the flat fee.
Can I see the report before it goes to USCIS or the court?
The report goes to the people you authorize in writing, usually your attorney, and you can review it before it is submitted. If you are unrepresented, the report comes to you. If anything in the report is factually inaccurate (a date wrong, a relative misnamed), Dr. Mantonya will correct it. However, clinical findings, diagnoses, symptom severity, the clinical opinion, are based on the evaluator's professional judgment and are not negotiable. Changing clinical conclusions at a client's request would undermine the report's integrity.
What happens if my evaluation is challenged or doubted?
If USCIS or DHS counsel challenges the evaluation in an RFE, supplemental brief, or hearing testimony, Dr. Mantonya provides an addendum or supplemental letter at no additional charge for issues the original report addressed. Significant new clinical work, for example, a fresh evaluation interview because new symptoms have emerged six months later, would be a separate addendum ($500). Dr. Mantonya does not provide live court testimony as part of the practice; written reports and addendums only.
Is the evaluation confidential?
We keep your information confidential and encrypted, and the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) limits disclosure. We share the report with the people you authorize in writing (usually you, your attorney, and the immigration agency or court), unless the law requires a disclosure, such as a court order. 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. See our privacy policy for full details.
Do I need a lawyer to start this process?
Not required, though often helpful. Attorneys often request these evaluations, and an evaluation can be more useful when it is coordinated with the legal strategy. If you are unrepresented, you can still contact us directly. Some forms of relief (cancellation of removal, hardship waivers) can be complex to pursue without a lawyer.
What if I cannot afford the flat fee?
Payment is made on the booking page before the appointment. If the fee is a concern, mention it in your first message and Dr. Mantonya can talk through the options, including splitting the fee into parts that are paid before the appointment.
Ready to start the process?
Start by telling us about your case through the contact form. Dr. Mantonya reviews what you send and replies with next steps. Interpreter available if needed.
Disclaimer: This page describes the typical process. Specific timelines and procedures may vary based on case type, urgency, and individual circumstances. The information here does not constitute legal or clinical advice and does not establish a clinician-patient relationship.