Expert Training in Immigration Evaluations
The Expert Training in Immigration Evaluations gives you the structure, judgment, and psycho-legal clarity to begin immigration evaluation work ethically and competently, from the very start.
This work matters. And you want to do it right.
But caring isn’t the same as being trained.
You want structure.
You want clarity.
And you want to know, with confidence, that you're doing this work the right way.
ETIE was built for clinicians who want to step into this work with structure, support, and mastery.
Sabrina Liu, Ph.D - Clinical Psychologist
Expert Training in Immigration Evaluations (ETIE) is a 12-week, cohort-based, hands-on training designed to teach you how to conduct and write immigration psychological evaluations with ethical precision and professional confidence.
ETIE was built on a simple belief: learning to do this work well requires more than watching videos and reading case law. It requires practice, feedback, and a process you've actually tested before it matters.
That means writing sample reports and getting feedback on them, developing the marketing materials you'll need to build your referral base, and working through the real decisions that come up in this work before you're facing them alone on a live case. You won't be learning on your actual clients — you'll arrive prepared.
And when the 12 weeks end, the support doesn't. Coaching continues after you complete the program, because the questions that come up once you're in practice are often the ones that matter most.
ETIE is for clinicians who want to do this work with confidence and integrity — not figure it out as they go.
Meet Your Instructor:
I’m Dr. Mariela Shibley, a licensed psychologist with over 17 years of experience conducting immigration psychological evaluations and the author of the most comprehensive textbook on Conducting Immigration Evaluations.
I teach clinicians how to translate sound clinical work into clear, legally relevant reports that attorneys can rely on.
While attorneys can describe hardship or trauma, a well-written evaluation from a trained mental health professional carries a different level of credibility and weight.
My approach emphasizes disciplined judgment, psycho-legal clarity, and ethical practice in high-stakes immigration cases.
You can learn more about me and my experience HERE.
*Conflict of Interest & Commercial Support Disclosure:
The instructor has no conflicts of interest to disclose. There is no commercial support for this program.
By the end of your 12-weeks inside the training, you’ll be able to:
Differentiate between major forms of immigration relief (e.g., hardship waivers, cancellation of removal, VAWA, U visas, T visas, asylum, SIJS) and explain the psycho-legal questions relevant to each.
Conduct immigration-focused psychological evaluations by gathering relevant psychosocial history, assessing psychological symptoms, and integrating objective assessment instruments when appropriate.
Analyze hardship and trauma-related factors (emotional, psychological, medical, financial, and country conditions) in accordance with USCIS and Immigration Court standards.
Formulate clear, organized, and legally relevant immigration evaluation reports that connect clinical findings to the specific referral question.
Apply best practices for working with interpreters and conducting telehealth immigration evaluations while maintaining ethical and legal compliance.
Prepare for and demonstrate effective expert witness testimony in Immigration Court, including articulating clinical opinions with clarity and professional certainty.
Develop ethical marketing strategies and professional practices that support sustainable work in immigration evaluations while implementing strategies to prevent vicarious trauma.
And by the time you write your first real report, it won’t actually be your first, because you’ll already have practiced how to move through this work, calmly and competently.
Your investment is $2,500
Payment plans are available.
Enrollment begins May 4 and is limited to 12 clinicians per cohort.
Your Participation includes:
6 LIVE group coaching calls with Dr. Mariela Shibley over the 12-week training
Sample reports for all the different types of immigration cases
Sample consent forms in English and Spanish
Helpful templates, including an intake guide, client forms, and symptoms screeners
All presentation slides
Lifetime Access to curriculum to return to when you want in the future
Invitation to join Dr. Shibley's Private Expert Evaluator Community Page to collaborate with other mental health providers in the program and receive additional coaching
20 Continuing Education units*
FREE Monthly Consultation Groups with Dr. Shibley to discuss complex clinical issues, immigration law trends, marketing strategies, self-care, administrative processes, and other relevant topics.
50% off your listing in our Immigration Psych Eval Directory
Discounted prices on advanced workshops and 1:1 consultations
Certificate of completion for display
* PsychEvalCoach is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. PsychEvalCoach maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Out-of-state licensees should check with their state governing board to make sure that the CE credits are valid in their state for their license. Acceptance of the CE credits for this activity is at the discretion of your licensing board.
What You’ll Learn for Every Type of Evaluation
Hardship waivers | Cancellation of removal (adults and children)
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
U Visa | T Visa | Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
Asylum/Withholding of Removal/Convention Against Torture
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Get thorough, relevant information during assessments while maintaining sensitivity and discretion so the applicant trusts they can share their story without judgment
Use evidence-based techniques to assess the impact of a forced separation or the harm on victims of trauma - adults and children - while still avoiding the session turning into therapy
Tests and psychological measures to employ in these assessments
Ethical and cultural considerations in conducting immigration assessments
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Write an objective report that comprehensively reflects the client’s case
Emphasize factors in the report that are extremely helpful in substantiating a client’s claim
Avoid information or language that could inadvertently misrepresent the client’s factual experience
Critical sections of a report where a mistake could be very costly
Distinguish your reports from most evaluators’ and identify common pitfalls that lead to requests for more evidence
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Understand US Immigration laws as they pertain to evaluations
Avoid overstepping professional boundaries and the role evaluators play in cases
Tips for testifying in court and the role of the mental health professional as an expert witness
Legal outline of the different forms of protection-related immigration relief for victims of torture and persecution, domestic violence, criminal activity, and human trafficking
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Best strategies to reach immigration attorneys and potential clients
Gain more referrals by becoming attorneys’ go-to evaluator
What to write on your website to position you as an expert in the field
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Protect your mental health while working with victims of trauma by using self-care tools and avoiding vicarious trauma
Streamline the report-writing process to decrease your workload and increase the number of clients you can see
“Worth every penny!
I highly recommend it to anyone looking to expand their knowledge, skill set, or practice.
Dr. Shibley presented effectively, elaborated when necessary, answered questions, and provided case examples, visual aids, and an array of training materials.
I feel better prepared to do what I love with confidence.”
Janet Montanez, LMSW, MHP
Expert Training in Immigration Evaluations starts
September 2026
Enrollment Opens August, 2026
Cohorts are limited to 12 participants to protect the quality of training and supervision.
Your Next Steps
Join the Fall '26 waitlist linked below
Keep an eye out for emails from us in August announcing our waitlist early enrollment before we announce it to the public.
Once we open the waitlist, schedule a 30-minute call with Dr. Shibley (link will be provided)
To complete the call booking, you will be asked to complete a short survey.
This allows Dr. Shibley to prepare for the call and use your time together thoughtfully.
During the call, she will also review the investment and available payment plan options.
If this training is the right fit, you will be invited to enroll.
If you are seriously considering this training, we recommend scheduling your call as soon as the calendar opens.
What Expert Graduates Say
Frequently Asked Questions
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If you’re asking this question, it’s usually not a lack of readiness, it’s a lack of structure.
You don’t want your first real immigration case to be a learning experience. ETIE is designed so that by the time you take on a real evaluation, you’ve already practiced the full process, written reports, and worked through nuance with expert guidance. Readiness comes from preparation, and that’s exactly what this training is built to provide.
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That concern is a sign of professional integrity.
ETIE is intentionally built around clinical judgment, ethical boundaries, and psycho-legal clarity, not shortcuts. You don’t just learn what goes into a report; you learn why it matters in a legal context, where precision and objectivity are essential. You practice writing reports, receive feedback, and refine your thinking under expert supervision, so you’re not figuring this out alone or on real cases.
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Most trainings focus on information. ETIE focuses on mastery.
This training is led by Dr. Mariela Shibley, a psychologist who didn’t just learn this work – she helped define it. You’re not only taught concepts; you’re guided through real-world application, decision-making, and nuance. The cohort model, live coaching, structured writing practice, and ongoing mentorship are intentional. This isn’t a passive course; it’s a mentored training designed to prepare you to do this work competently from the start.
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Immigration evaluations are not routine clinical assessments, and experience alone doesn’t automatically translate into psycho-legal competence. Without structured training, clinicians often struggle with legal relevance, report organization, or ethical boundaries.
ETIE exists so you don’t have to reverse-engineer this specialty through trial and error. You learn the full framework upfront, in a way that protects both your clients and your license.
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Yes — and responsibly.
Immigration evaluations can offer flexibility and financial sustainability, but only when the work is done correctly. ETIE teaches you how to build a clear, repeatable process so you’re not overworking, second-guessing yourself, or cutting ethical corners. Inside the training, you’ll get a step-by-step plan on how to market your services, including the best strategies to reach immigration attorneys and potential clients. You’ll also get 50% off your listing in our Immigration Psych Eval Directory.
Sustainability comes from competence and confidence, not volume — and that’s the foundation of this training.
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ETIE is designed to support you during the training and beyond it. You’re not left on your own once the 12 weeks end. You have continued access to resources, expert guidance, and a professional community that understands the complexity of this work and supports your ongoing growth.
As a graduate, you’ll also have access to our free Monthly Consultation Group with Dr. Shibley to help you with your ongoing immigration evaluation questions, including complex clinical issues, immigration law trends, marketing strategies, self-care, administrative processes, and other relevant topics.
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Of course! You can see the entire curriculum outline here.
You’ll learn how to conduct assessments, including what to ask and how to ask it for all types of evaluations. You’ll learn and practice how to write an objective report, plus get feedback during our coaching calls to
You’ll also get modules on how to use self-care tools to protect your mental health and avoid vicarious trauma while working with victims of trauma.
The training is comprehensive by design - you will finish the 12-week session not only feeling ready for immigration evaluations, but in many cases, already having finished your first report.
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We’ll meet as a group for coaching calls on Fridays at 8:00 am PT. The calls are recorded in case you can’t make it live. The ongoing Monthly Consultation Group meets the 1st Wednesday of every month at 12:00 pm PT.
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Because ETIE is a cohort-based, high-touch training with limited enrollment, we do not offer refunds. To ensure alignment, the enrollment process includes a thoughtful application and the opportunity to speak directly with Dr. Shibley before committing.
Our priority is transparency, fit, and ethical practice — from the first conversation forward.
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When you enroll in ETIE, you receive:
A 12-week, cohort-based training program
On-demand curriculum covering the full immigration evaluation process
6 live group coaching calls with Dr. Mariela Shibley
Guided practice writing immigration evaluation reports
Structured templates for different case types
Consent forms in English and Spanish
Intake guides and client-facing materials
Expert feedback on clinical judgment and report writing
20 APA-approved continuing education credits*
Lifetime access to the curriculum
Access to a private expert evaluator community
Free access to ongoing monthly consultation groups
A certificate of completion
Discounts on future workshops, consultations, and a professional listing on our Immigration Psych Eval Directory
Most importantly, you leave prepared — not guessing — and ready to step into this work with clarity, confidence, and ethical integrity.
PsychEvalCoach is committed to providing accessible continuing education programs. This course is delivered fully online. If you require reasonable accommodations to participate, please contact us at info@psychevalcoach.com prior to the course start date so that we may work with you to meet your needs.
Grievance Policy: Participants who have concerns regarding this program may submit a written grievance to info@psychevalcoach.com. All grievances will be reviewed and responded to within 10 business days.