What’s the Difference Between a Support Letter and an Immigration Mental Health Evaluation?
Confused about whether you need a support letter or a full mental health evaluation for your immigration case? Learn the key differences and why evaluations provide stronger clinical evidence for cases like VAWA, U Visa, T Visa, and Hardship Waivers.
Key Takeaways:
A support letter is typically brief and general. It may confirm a client is in therapy, but it does not provide clinical detail.
An immigration mental health evaluation is a detailed, professional document tailored to the legal case. It includes symptoms, trauma history, and emotional impact.
Evaluations are typically 15 to 20 pages long and written for USCIS in professional English.
These evaluations support VAWA, U Visa, T Visa, Hardship Waivers (I-601/I-601A/I-212), and Cancellation of Removal.
Nueva Vida Therapy offers services in Spanish and English and works with interpreters when needed.
Evaluations are available virtually in 25+ U.S. states, with final reports completed in about 2 weeks.
When preparing for your immigration case, your attorney may recommend documents that show how your experiences have affected your mental and emotional health. One of the most common questions clients have is:
“Do I need a support letter or a full mental health evaluation?”
Here’s how they differ—and why it matters.
What Is a Support Letter?
A support letter is often written by someone who knows you personally or professionally, such as a family member, friend, doctor, or therapist. It may include:
Confirmation that you have attended therapy sessions
Mention of a diagnosis (if applicable)
Brief notes about your goals or progress
📌 However, these letters are usually very short—often one or two pages. They do not include a full clinical interview, observation of symptoms, or in-depth evaluation of your emotional and psychological well-being.
📝 What Is an Immigration Mental Health Evaluation?
An immigration mental health evaluation is a clinical, professional report written specifically to support your legal case. It’s prepared by a licensed mental health provider and includes:
A comprehensive clinical interview
Review of personal, family, and immigration history
Observed symptoms and clinical diagnosis
Psychological, emotional, and functional impact
Final conclusions based on established clinical criteria
📄 These evaluations are 15 to 20 pages long and are delivered directly to your attorney in professional English, as required by immigration courts and USCIS.
⚖️ Why Does the Difference Matter?
Support letters can help show that you have people in your life who understand your situation or that you’re seeking help. But a full evaluation provides a much stronger foundation for your case.
Immigration mental health evaluations offer clinical evidence of how trauma, fear of deportation, and ongoing emotional stress are affecting your ability to function and feel safe. For this reason, attorneys often request evaluations because of their legal weight in immigration cases.
✅ Cases We Support at Nueva Vida Therapy
We provide professional evaluations for:
VAWA (Domestic Violence)
U Visa (Victims of Crime)
T Visa (Victims of Human Trafficking)
Hardship Waivers (I-601, I-601A, I-212)
Cancellation of Removal
Our bilingual clinicians complete most evaluations within 2 weeks after the clinical interview.
🌐 Services We Offer
Virtual evaluations in more than 25 U.S. states
Licensed bilingual clinicians in English and Spanish
We also work with interpreters when another language is needed
Reports written with cultural sensitivity and legal standards in mind
📲 Not Sure What You Need?
Your attorney will usually let you know whether a support letter or a full evaluation is more appropriate for your case. If you’re unsure, we can help you figure it out.
Contact us to schedule or learn more:
📞 Call us at (619) 728-9330
🌐 www.Nueva-Vida-Therapy.com
📩 Email: Info@Nueva-Vida-Therapy.com
