Angelica Melissa-Garza Benavides, PhD
Licensed Psychologist
PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS
IMMIGRATION PROCEEDING
Psychological evaluations are often requested and at times necessary for immigration proceedings. Frequently immigration attorneys request evaluations by a licensed psychologist to provide evidentiary materials presented to USCIS agents or immigration court cases. Psychological evaluations for immigration purposes vary depending on the type of case. Generally, most reports include a psychosocial history, testing, diagnosis, and recommendations for treatment, as well as information related to specific criteria for each type of immigration case as stipulated by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
EXTREME HARDSHIP
Extreme hardship evaluations focus on the hardship a qualifying relative/applicant (U.S. citizen or resident) would experience if there is a denial of admission. The psychological evaluation outlines the hardships that exceed what is expected or usual if the petitioned family member were not allowed to come to or remain in the United States. Factors considered include the impact on employment, educational opportunities, economics, adjustment, health concerns, and family separation among other variables such as conditions in the country of relocation.
U - VISA
U Visa psychological evaluations assess the victims of certain crimes that occurred in the United States. The focus is on the mental or physical abuse experienced and the assistance the victim gives to law enforcement or government officials in investigating such cases. The willingness to assist in the prosecution of such crimes is also examined.
VAWA
The Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) allows for certain non-U.S. citizen individuals (male or female) who are victims of physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse and domestic violence by U.S. citizen or lawful permanent residents. VAWA psychological evaluations focus on the abuse experienced by the non-U.S. citizen and provide documentation of the psychological impact and nature of the abuse, including the severity and frequency.
T - VISA
T-Visa psychological evaluations assess certain victims of human trafficking, including sex and/or labor trafficking. The psychological impact of these experiences is addressed. The non-U.S. citizen is assessed in relation to these dynamics and the extreme hardships that could be experienced in the individual’s homeland if removed from the United States.
ASYLUM
Psychological evaluations pertaining to asylum cases focus on the persecution or fear of persecution on the non-U.S. citizen in their country of origin. This persecution relates to race, religion, nationality, social group, and/or political opinion/position. A careful account of the individual’s psychosocial history, including pre- and post- torture/mistreatment is provided, as well as diagnostic impressions.
CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL
Psychological evaluations for the purpose of cancellation of removal proceedings for a non-U.S. citizen focus primarily on the impact deportation would have on a U.S. citizen or permanent resident family member. However, at times, the non-U.S. citizen is assessed depending on the case. In COR cases exceptional and usual extreme hardship is evaluated. Court testimony of the licensed psychological can be requested.
ABOUT
Dr. Garza-Benavides provides assessments in a culturally sensitive environment. She has significant experience working with immigration issues, clients with trauma and depression, and conducting psychological evaluations. Dr. Garza-Benavides conducts immigration and psychological evaluations via a telehealth program that provides secure video appointments, making appointments convenient for clients. To schedule immigration proceedings or other psychological assessments, including extreme hardship, asylum, cancellation of removal, VAWA, U-Visa, & T-Visa, please call 713-817-1596. Bilingual (Spanish) speaking services are provided and for other non-English speaking clients, a translator can be used.
​
Dr. Garza-Benavides holds a license to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology in the
states/commonwealths listed below:
​
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Commonwealth-N Mariana Islands, Connecticut,
Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,
Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
​
​​​​​
La Dra. Garza-Benavides ofrece evaluaciones en un ambiente culturalmente sensible. Tiene experiencia significativa trabajando con temas de inmigración, clientes con trauma y depresión, y evaluaciones psicológicas. La Dra. Garza-Benavides ofrece evaluaciones psicológicas de inmigración y psicológicas por un programa de telesalud que proporciona citas por video con un sistema seguro, haciendo que sea conveniente para nuestros clientes. Para programar una cita para casos de sufrimiento extremo, asilo, cancelación de deportación, VAWA, U-Visa, y T-Visa, favor de llamar a 713-817-1596. Se ofrece servicios bilingües (español).
​
La Dr. Garza-Benavides tiene una licencia para practicar la telepsicología interjurisdiccional en los estados/mancomunidades que se enumeran a continuación:
​
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Commonwealth-N Mariana Islands, Connecticut,
Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,
Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, y Wyoming.
​​
MY CLINIC
In Person and
Telehealth Appointments
LOCATION
Address:
1100 East NASA Parkway,
Suite 420 B
Houston, TX 77058
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
OPENING HOURS
Mon - Fri: By Appointment
Saturday & Sunday: Closed