Immigration Mental Health Evaluations
for Children and Families in NJ

An Immigration Mental Health Evaluation is an assessment that can provide support and have a positive impact on the outcome of an immigration case. The Immigration Evaluation focuses on the effects that deportation would have on one’s physical and mental health. Often, the evaluation can be the deciding factor as to whether or not an individual can remain in the United States with their family.

Healing Through Play Therapy provides Immigration Mental Health Evaluations for the following cases:

• Extreme Hardship (I-601 and I-601A): Extreme Hardship, in the context of the I-601 and I-601A waivers, is a legal concept that aims to prevent the separation of families facing deportation or inadmissibility in the United States. It recognizes that certain individuals have family members, such as a spouse or parent who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, who would suffer significant and exceptional hardship if the person facing deportation is removed from the country or denied entry. This hardship goes beyond the usual difficulties experienced in such situations.

  
  

• VAWA: The VAWA waiver, also known as the Violence Against Women Act waiver, is a legal provision in the United States that helps protect victims of domestic violence who are facing immigration challenges. It provides a way for certain abused immigrants, both men and women, to seek relief and legal status independently of their abusers.

  
  

• Asylum: The asylum waiver is a legal provision that applies to individuals seeking protection in the United States through the asylum process. When someone applies for asylum, they are asking the U.S. government to grant them refugee status due to a fear of persecution in their home country.

• SIJS: The Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) waiver is a legal provision that helps certain immigrant children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment. SIJS is a pathway to obtain lawful permanent residency (a green card) for children who cannot be reunited with their parents due to abuse or similar reasons.
  
  

• U Visa: The U visa is a special type of visa available to individuals who have suffered substantial physical or emotional abuse as a result of certain crimes and who cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of those crimes.

  
  

• T Visa: The T visa is a special visa that allows victims of trafficking to stay in the United States and assist law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting the traffickers.

  
  

• Cancellation of Removal: The cancellation of removal waiver is a legal provision that helps certain individuals who are facing deportation proceedings in the United States. It provides a way for them to ask the government to cancel their removal and allow them to stay in the country legally. To be eligible for the waiver, an individual must demonstrate that they have been living in the United States for a specific period of time (usually at least 10 years), have good moral character, and that their removal would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to their U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, parent, or child.