Immigration Evaluation in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Psychological immigration evaluations are available to Grand Rapids residents entirely online, with no need to travel form home. I provide comprehensive evaluations and written reports for hardship waivers (I-601 and I-601A), VAWA self-petitions, U-Visa and T-Visa applications, cancellation of removal applications, and those seeking removal of conditions. Each type of evaluation is conducted by secure video and prepared to USCIS standards, typically within two weeks of interview.

Serving Grand Rapids and the Surrounding Region

Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in Michigan and the seat of Kent County, and it anchors a metro area that includes Wyoming, Kentwood, Walker, Grandville, Rockford, and the wider West Michigan region.

Immigration matters for residents here are typically handled through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office and the immigration court system that serves West Michigan, and many local cases are represented by attorneys based in the downtown Grand Rapids legal corridor near the Kent County Courthouse.

Because the evaluation is conducted online, you can complete it from home, from your attorney's office, or anywhere with a private connection — whether you live near Eastown, on the West Side, in Burton Heights, or out in the suburbs. There is no drive across the state and no time taken off work for travel.

Grand Rapids' Immigrant Communities

Grand Rapids and Kent County are home to one of the most established immigrant populations in Michigan outside the Detroit metro area. The city has significant Mexican and Central American communities, alongside Vietnamese, Bosnian, Burmese, Congolese, and Cuban families that have resettled here over the past several decades. This combination of an established immigrant population and active legal community is reflected in the range of immigration cases here.

I also have personal connections to Grand Rapids: while I grew up “up north,” my parents are both from Grand Rapids and I went to college here, where I majored in Spanish. That background gives me a working familiarity with the language and culture of many of the Spanish-speaking families served by immigration evaluations in this city — and a genuine appreciation for the communities that make up West Michigan.

Who Needs an Immigration Evaluation in Grand Rapids?

You may benefit from a psychological evaluation if you or a family member are pursuing:

  • An extreme hardship waiver (I-601 / I-601A), where a qualifying relative's emotional and psychological hardship must be documented

  • A VAWA self-petition as a survivor of abuse by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, parent, or child

  • A U-Visa (victims of qualifying crimes) or T-Visa (victims of trafficking)

  • Cancellation of removal, where hardship to qualifying relatives is central

If your attorney has recommended a "psych eval," a "hardship evaluation," or a "forensic mental health evaluation," that's what this is.

How the Process Works

  1. Free 20-minute consultation — we confirm the evaluation type, your timeline, and your attorney's needs.

  2. Clinical interview — two-three secure video sessions, available in flexible scheduling around work hours.

  3. Written report — a comprehensive, court-ready document delivered to you and your attorney, typically within two weeks of final interview appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to travel to your office in Grand Rapids? No. There is no in-person office visit. Every evaluation is conducted by secure video, so you can complete it from anywhere in the Grand Rapids area.

Can you coordinate with my Grand Rapids immigration attorney? Yes. I regularly work directly with attorneys and tailor each report to the specific waiver or petition at issue.

How quickly can I get my report? Most reports are completed within two weeks of the final interview. If you have a filing deadline, tell me at the consultation and I'll let you know whether an expedited timeline is possible. And if not, I’ll help you find another therapist who can help.

About Nikki Sewell, LCSW

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing psychological immigration evaluations entirely online for clients across Michigan. I bring more than a decade of experience producing thorough, timely, court-ready reports for immigration attorneys and their clients. Evaluations are conducted by secure video — there's no office to drive to and no waiting room.

Book a free 20-minute consultation to discuss your case and timeline. Sessions and evaluations are available to clients in Michigan, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Or, learn more about immigration evaluations here.