Not knowing what to expect can be one of the most stressful parts of preparing for an asylum evaluation — especially for someone who has already been through more uncertainty than anyone should have to face. This guide walks through the process from start to finish, so you can go into your evaluation feeling informed rather than anxious.
Step 1: Referral and Scheduling
Most clients are referred by their immigration attorney, though some reach out directly after researching their options. Once you connect with Still Waters Therapeutic Services, scheduling is handled virtually, and an initial appointment is set at a time that works for you.
Step 2: Intake and Case Background
Before the clinical interview begins, some background information is gathered — basic history, relevant legal context from your attorney (if applicable), and any documentation that may help inform the evaluation. This isn't a test to pass; it's simply groundwork that helps the evaluation move efficiently once the session starts.
Step 3: The Clinical Interview
This is the heart of the evaluation. During the interview, the clinician asks about your history, the events that led to your asylum claim, and how those experiences have affected you emotionally and psychologically since. Sessions are conducted at a pace that respects what you're sharing — there's no expectation that difficult memories will come out cleanly or in perfect order, and pauses are always okay.
Step 4: Psychological Assessment
Depending on your presentation and history, standardized clinical assessments may be used to help document symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, or other conditions. These tools add an objective, measurable layer to the evaluation that supports the clinical narrative.
Step 5: Clinical Analysis
After the interview and any assessments are complete, the clinician reviews everything gathered — your history, your current symptoms, and how they connect to the persecution you experienced — to form a clear clinical picture.
Step 6: The Written Report
A detailed report is prepared, documenting the clinical interview, any assessments used, diagnostic impressions, and how your psychological presentation relates to your asylum claim. This report is written to be understood by attorneys, asylum officers, and immigration judges — people who aren't clinicians themselves, but who rely on clear, well-supported documentation to evaluate a case.
Step 7: Delivery to You and Your Attorney
Once complete, the report is provided to you and your attorney, who will incorporate it into your broader asylum filing alongside your personal testimony and any other supporting evidence.
You Don't Have to Navigate This Alone
An asylum case is one of the most personal, high-stakes processes a person can go through, and the evaluation itself doesn't need to add to that weight. Still Waters Therapeutic Services offers psychological evaluations for immigration cases entirely virtually, with trauma-informed care built into every step of the process described above.
To learn more about Janine Braham's background and experience with immigration evaluations, visit her Immigration Evaluation Therapists directory profile.