Immigration psychological evaluations can feel unfamiliar, especially when they are connected to a legal process, personal history, family stress, trauma, or uncertainty about the future. Many people are not sure what the evaluation involves, what they will be asked, or how the final report may be used.
This guide explains what to expect during an immigration psychological evaluation, how the process usually works, and how Center for Psychological Treatment and Assessment supports clients in Schaumburg, IL.
Center for Psychological Treatment and Assessment provides immigration psychological evaluations for individuals involved in certain immigration matters, including cases where clinical documentation may help explain a person’s emotional, psychological, or family circumstances. Evaluations can be coordinated with an immigration attorney when appropriate and authorized by the client.
Important location note: Dr. Djurovic is licensed to practice in Illinois. Telehealth evaluations are available only when the client is physically located in Illinois at the time of the appointment. Clients who live outside Illinois may be seen for in-person psychological testing or evaluation if they are able to travel to the Schaumburg, IL office.
Key takeaways
- An immigration psychological evaluation is a clinical evaluation, not a legal decision.
- The process usually includes an interview, review of relevant history, psychological screening or testing when appropriate, and a written report.
- The evaluation may help document emotional distress, trauma history, hardship, family impact, or psychological symptoms relevant to the person’s circumstances.
- A psychological evaluation does not guarantee any immigration outcome.
- Telehealth is available only when the client is physically located in Illinois at the time of the appointment.
- Clients from outside Illinois may be seen in person at the Schaumburg office if they are able to travel to Illinois, including clients seeking an evaluation or testing in Serbian.
What is an immigration psychological evaluation?
An immigration psychological evaluation is a clinical assessment completed by a qualified mental health professional. The purpose is to understand and document a person’s psychological, emotional, and functional circumstances in a structured way.
Depending on the case, the evaluation may explore topics such as:
- trauma history
- anxiety, depression, or stress-related symptoms
- family separation concerns
- hardship affecting a spouse, parent, child, or other family member
- emotional impact of abuse, threats, persecution, or instability
- functioning at home, work, school, or in relationships
- treatment history or current mental health needs
The final report may be shared with an immigration attorney or included as part of a broader legal filing, depending on the attorney’s guidance and the client’s consent.
It is important to understand that the psychologist does not decide the legal case. The evaluation provides clinical information. Immigration decisions are made by the appropriate legal or government authorities.
Who may need an immigration psychological evaluation?
Immigration psychological evaluations may be requested in several types of immigration matters. Common examples include:
- hardship waivers
- asylum-related cases
- VAWA cases
- U visa cases
- T visa cases
- cancellation of removal
- family-based cases where emotional hardship or psychological impact is relevant
Every case is different. Some clients are referred by an immigration attorney. Others contact the practice because they were told that a psychological evaluation may be helpful, but they are not yet sure what the process involves.
If you are working with an attorney, the attorney can usually clarify what type of evaluation is needed and what legal questions the clinical report should help address.
Step 1: Initial contact and scheduling
The process usually begins when the client, attorney, or family member contacts the practice to ask about availability and next steps.
During this first contact, the practice may ask for basic information such as:
- the type of immigration matter, if known
- whether the client has an attorney
- whether the evaluation is needed by a specific deadline
- the client’s current location
- language needs
- whether the appointment will be in person or, when clinically appropriate, by telehealth
Center for Psychological Treatment and Assessment is located in Schaumburg, IL. Telehealth appointments may be available only when the client is physically located in Illinois at the time of the appointment. Clients who live outside Illinois may be able to schedule an in-person evaluation if they can travel to the Schaumburg office.
If you are ready to ask about scheduling, you can contact the practice to discuss availability and next steps.
Step 2: Attorney coordination, when appropriate
Many immigration psychological evaluations involve coordination with an immigration attorney. This can help clarify the purpose of the evaluation and the type of information that may be relevant.
With the client’s written permission, the psychologist may communicate with the attorney to better understand:
- the type of immigration case
- the legal context for the evaluation
- specific clinical questions the report should address
- deadlines or filing needs
- relevant documents the attorney wants reviewed
This coordination helps make the evaluation more focused and useful. However, the psychologist remains responsible for providing an independent clinical opinion based on the evaluation.
The psychologist does not provide legal advice and does not guarantee how the report will affect the case.
Step 3: Clinical interview
The clinical interview is the main part of the evaluation. It is a structured conversation where the psychologist gathers information about the client’s history, symptoms, functioning, and current circumstances.
Depending on the case, the interview may include questions about:
- personal and family background
- immigration history
- traumatic or stressful experiences
- medical and mental health history
- current emotional symptoms
- sleep, concentration, mood, anxiety, or trauma responses
- relationships and family responsibilities
- work, school, or daily functioning
- previous therapy or psychiatric treatment
- current support system
Some clients worry that they will have to share everything at once or that they will be judged. A good evaluation should be respectful, careful, and clinically appropriate. The goal is to understand the person’s experience and document it accurately, not to pressure the person into sharing more than is needed.
Step 4: Psychological screening or testing, if appropriate
In some evaluations, the psychologist may use psychological questionnaires or screening tools. These tools can help assess symptoms such as depression, anxiety, trauma-related distress, or other emotional concerns.
Testing is not always the same for every person. The tools used depend on the purpose of the evaluation and the clinical questions being addressed.
Psychological screening does not replace the clinical interview. It is one part of the broader evaluation process.
Step 5: Review of relevant documents
When appropriate, the psychologist may review relevant documents provided by the client or attorney. These may include:
- attorney referral letters
- personal statements
- medical or mental health records
- school or work records
- police reports or protective orders, when relevant
- prior evaluations or treatment summaries
- documents related to family, hardship, or trauma history
Not every evaluation requires the same documents. The attorney can often help identify what is relevant for the legal case, while the psychologist determines what is clinically useful for the evaluation.
Step 6: Written psychological report
After the interview, testing, and document review are completed, the psychologist prepares a written report.
The report may include:
- reason for referral
- background information
- clinical observations
- relevant personal, family, medical, or trauma history
- current psychological symptoms
- testing or screening results, if used
- diagnostic impressions, when appropriate
- clinical formulation
- summary and recommendations
The report is written to communicate clinical findings clearly. In immigration-related matters, the report may be shared with the client’s attorney with the client’s permission.
The report should be accurate, professional, and clinically grounded. It should not exaggerate symptoms or promise a legal result.
Step 7: Feedback and next steps
After the evaluation, the psychologist may review next steps with the client. Depending on the situation, this may include:
- sending the report to the attorney with consent
- discussing treatment recommendations
- suggesting therapy or follow-up care when appropriate
- clarifying what the evaluation can and cannot address
Some clients may continue with therapy after the evaluation, but therapy is separate from the evaluation process. An evaluation is usually focused on assessment and documentation. Therapy is focused on ongoing care and support.
What an immigration psychological evaluation can and cannot do
An immigration psychological evaluation can provide clinical documentation about a person’s psychological and emotional circumstances. It can help explain symptoms, history, functioning, family impact, or hardship in a structured clinical report.
An immigration psychological evaluation cannot:
- provide legal advice
- replace an immigration attorney
- guarantee approval of an immigration case
- guarantee a specific legal outcome
- decide whether a person qualifies for a visa, waiver, asylum, or other immigration relief
For legal questions, clients should speak with a qualified immigration attorney.
Immigration psychological evaluations in Schaumburg, IL
Center for Psychological Treatment and Assessment provides immigration psychological evaluations from its office in Schaumburg, IL. The practice is led by Dr. Jelena Djurovic, Psy.D., an Illinois Licensed Clinical Psychologist.
Telehealth evaluations may be available only when the client is physically located in Illinois at the time of the appointment. Clients from outside Illinois may be seen in person if they are able to travel to the Schaumburg office for the evaluation.
Services are available in English, Serbian, and Spanish. This may be especially helpful for clients who need to explain sensitive personal or family experiences in a language they can use comfortably. Clients from across the United States who are seeking an immigration psychological evaluation in Serbian may contact the practice about in-person evaluation options in Schaumburg, IL.
The office is located at:
Center for Psychological Treatment and Assessment
1320 Tower Rd, Suite 156
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Clients and attorneys may contact the practice to ask about availability, scheduling, and the evaluation process. You can also review rates and insurance information before scheduling.
Common questions about immigration psychological evaluations
How long does an immigration psychological evaluation take?
The length of the process depends on the complexity of the case, the amount of history involved, whether testing is needed, and whether documents must be reviewed. Some evaluations require more than one appointment. The practice can provide more specific scheduling information during the initial contact.
Do I need an attorney before scheduling an evaluation?
Many clients are referred by an attorney, and attorney coordination can be helpful. If you already have an immigration attorney, the evaluation can often be coordinated with them after you provide written permission. If you do not have an attorney, the practice can explain the clinical evaluation process, but it cannot provide legal advice.
Will the psychologist talk to my attorney?
The psychologist may communicate with your attorney if you give written permission. This can help clarify the purpose of the evaluation and help the report address the relevant clinical questions.
Can an immigration psychological evaluation be done by telehealth?
Telehealth may be available only when the client is physically located in Illinois at the time of the appointment. Some situations may be better suited for in-person evaluation. Clients who live outside Illinois may be seen for in-person psychological testing or evaluation if they are able to travel to the Schaumburg office.
What documents should I prepare for an immigration psychological evaluation?
Documents vary by case, but may include attorney referral letters, personal statements, medical or mental health records, prior evaluations, police reports or protective orders when relevant, and documents related to family, hardship, or trauma history. Your attorney can help identify what is legally relevant, while the psychologist determines what is clinically useful for the evaluation.
Is the evaluation available in Serbian or Spanish?
Center for Psychological Treatment and Assessment offers care in English, Serbian, and Spanish. Clients from outside Illinois who need an evaluation in Serbian may be seen in person if they are able to travel to the Schaumburg office and are physically present in Illinois for the evaluation.
Does a psychological evaluation guarantee that my immigration case will be approved?
No. A psychological evaluation can provide clinical documentation, but it does not guarantee any immigration outcome. Immigration decisions are made by legal or government authorities. Clients should speak with their attorney about how the evaluation may be used in their case.
How Center for Psychological Treatment and Assessment can help
Center for Psychological Treatment and Assessment provides immigration psychological evaluations for clients in Schaumburg, IL. Evaluations are completed with attention to clinical accuracy, respect for the client’s history, and clear communication with attorneys when appropriate and authorized by the client.
If you or your attorney are seeking an immigration psychological evaluation in Illinois, you can contact Center for Psychological Treatment and Assessment to ask about availability and next steps.
Clinically reviewed by
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Jelena Djurovic, Psy.D., Illinois Licensed Clinical Psychologist, License #071-011433. Dr. Djurovic provides psychotherapy, psychological evaluations, immigration evaluations, and pre-surgical psychological evaluations in Schaumburg, IL.
Last reviewed: June 2026
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and does not provide legal advice, medical advice, or emergency mental health care. Immigration laws and legal requirements vary by case. For legal guidance, consult a qualified immigration attorney. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.