Asylum
Individuals seeking political asylum have been exposed to extreme deprivation, severe abuse, and even torture in their home country. Frequently, the mistreatment is associated with a political, religious, and/or ethnic persecution. At some point, the individual flees his or her country to the United States and files a Political Asylum claim. The purpose of an immigration evaluation in asylum cases is to collect information about this mistreatment and to examine the psychological impact that these circumstances have had on the immigrant. It is most common that the individual has developed psychological problems because of the abuse, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), severe anxiety, and/or depression.
If your immigration case involves political asylum, it is important to evaluate the extent and severity of your trauma and to assess if you continue to suffer from psychological symptoms after your arrival to the U.S., and how long-lasting the psychological consequences could be. In addition to the legal aid you are receiving, the immigration evaluation can help you communicate and document the mental health aspects of your case. Dr. Matthew Diner's practice is guided by case-law and legal standards and work with our clients to identify hardships within numerous categories (i.e., finances, housing, medical needs, academic issues, suicide risk, country conditions, etc.). Then, we assess the impact that these hardships have on emotional and social adjustment. |