A practical guide to finding a qualified provider who can examine you and certify Form N-648, with clear distinctions between physician-led and psychological evaluations.
Updated on: 2026-07-26
If you are naturalizing and English or the civics test is out of reach because of a medical condition, the piece of paper you need is Form N-648. The confusing part is not the form itself. It is figuring out who in Las Vegas can actually sign it. A lot of clinics and psychologists advertise "immigration evaluations," and most of those pages never mention N-648 at all. Some can help. Some cannot certify the form even if you pay them.
Here is the short version. In the Las Vegas area, the most directly documented provider for a physician-led N-648 examination, records review, and form completion is Partida Corona Medical Center at 2950 E. Flamingo Road, Suite E. For cases that center on memory, learning, or psychological conditions, a few licensed clinical psychologists in and around the city advertise N-648 evaluations too. Below I lay out the real options, what separates them, and the questions that keep people from wasting a $1,000-plus consultation.
What Form N-648 actually does
Form N-648 is the USCIS Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions. It lets a naturalization applicant request an exception to the English test, the civics test, or both, because of a medically determinable physical disability, developmental disability, or mental impairment that prevents them from learning or demonstrating that knowledge.
It is not a general immigration physical. It is not the I-693 civil surgeon exam. And it does not skip the naturalization interview. It is a request that USCIS evaluates. A diagnosis alone does not win it. The form has to explain the connection between the condition and why the person cannot learn or show the required English or civics.
One thing worth being blunt about: nobody can guarantee approval. USCIS decides. Any provider who promises a "guaranteed waiver" is selling you something they cannot deliver.
Who is legally allowed to sign it
This is where most people get tripped up. USCIS only accepts N-648 certifications from three types of professionals:
- Licensed medical doctors (M.D.)
- Licensed doctors of osteopathy (D.O.)
- Licensed clinical psychologists
A nurse practitioner, physician assistant, therapist, social worker, or general counselor cannot certify the form on their own. So the first question for any provider is simple: are you an M.D., D.O., or licensed clinical psychologist, and will you personally examine me and sign the current form?
The current USCIS Policy Manual guidance also spells out what the certifying professional has to do: examine you, name and describe the impairment, explain the nexus to learning English or civics, confirm the condition has lasted or will last at least 12 months, state it is not the result of illegal drug use, describe the clinical methods used, and note the date of the last relevant exam. Real-time telehealth exams may be accepted when the provider follows Nevada telehealth rules.
Timing matters too. The form must generally be certified no more than 180 days before you file Form N-400, and it should be submitted with that application. There is no USCIS filing fee for N-648, though the provider can charge for the exam, records review, testing, interpretation, and form completion. Download the current form edition (09/25/24) instead of using an old copy.
Las Vegas-area N-648 providers
Here is how the documented options compare. I have kept anything unverified marked as such rather than guessing.
| Provider | Type | N-648 evidence | Location / service area | Published price | Notes to verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partida Corona Medical Center | Physician-led (M.D./D.O.) | Official page specifically names N-648 exams, records coordination, impairment-focused exam, and form completion | 2950 E. Flamingo Road, Suite E, Las Vegas, NV 89121; 702-565-6004 | No dollar amount published | Exam runs about 50 minutes; Mon-Fri 8-5; walk-ins advertised; paperwork often ready in one day to one week |
| Dr. Mary Lou Ancheta, PsyD | Clinical psychologist | Psychology Today profile lists N-648 disability waivers; NV license PY1201 | Las Vegas 89138 / 89135; 725-543-2384 | $1,400 individual session | Confirm the fee includes form certification, not just a report |
| Dr. Dasa Jendrusakova, PsyD | Clinical psychologist | Website lists N-648 among citizenship-waiver services; NV license 0934 | Serves Nevada; office format not clearly stated | $1,000-$2,000, report included; rush fee $300-$500 | Confirm in-person vs telehealth and that she signs the form |
| Dr. Lisa Long & Associates | Clinical psychologist (telehealth) | Practice states it conducts N-648 evaluations by secure telehealth | Remote for Nevada; no local office | $1,350, common-language interpreter included | Confirm current Nevada availability and telehealth compliance |
| Fountas & Associates | Immigration law firm | Reviews whether a case may qualify for an N-648 | Las Vegas 89120; 702-451-8815 | Not published | Legal screening/referral only; does not perform the medical exam |
A few local mental-health practices (Las Vegas Mental Health and TMS Center, Henderson Mental Health, Dr. Michael Grey, Dr. Marissa Vasquez) advertise immigration evaluations but do not explicitly list N-648 on their reviewed pages. They may still help. You just have to ask directly whether they will conduct the required examination and certify the form.
Why Partida Corona is the strongest local starting point
Most of the Las Vegas options that clearly do N-648 work are psychologists, which is great for cases built on cognitive or psychological impairments. What is harder to find locally is a physician-led clinic that names N-648 specifically and completes the form in person. That is where Partida Corona Medical Center fits.
Its official page does not just describe "immigration evaluations" in the abstract. It names N-648 exams, describes an impairment-focused examination, reviews medical and psychological records, coordinates supporting records with your existing providers, and handles form completion with secure record storage. The exam is physician-led by a certified U.S. civil surgeon, and M.D.s and D.O.s are among the professionals USCIS authorizes to certify N-648.
That civil surgeon note deserves one caveat. Civil surgeon designation is tied to the I-693 immigration medical exam, not to some special N-648 credential. The reason a physician there can sign N-648 is that they are a licensed M.D. or D.O. who examines you and completes the form properly. Same authority, different service.
Practical details that matter to real people: the clinic's contact page lists the E. Flamingo Road address, weekday hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and walk-in availability. Paperwork may be ready anywhere from one day to a week after the clinic has the clinical information it needs. One older page references a Maryland Parkway address, so confirm you are heading to E. Flamingo before you drive over.
What the clinic does not publish is a flat N-648 price. Do not assume a number. Ask for the full cost up front, including records review, any testing, interpretation, and form completion. Given the clinic's broader reputation for transparent, no-hidden-fee pricing on immigration services, asking that question directly should get you a clear answer.
Physician-led vs psychological evaluation: which fits your case
This is the decision that matters more than location or price, and most people skip it.
A physician-led clinic tends to fit better when the case involves:
- Stroke, dementia, or neurological disease
- Serious physical illness
- Developmental disability
- Multiple medical conditions at once
- Medication effects or a complicated medical record
A licensed clinical psychologist tends to fit better when the core issue is:
- Memory, learning, or concentration
- Cognitive functioning or intellectual limitations
- Depression, trauma, or other mental impairments
- Anything needing psychological or neuropsychological testing
The condition has to be medically determinable, and whoever signs has to explain how it stops you from learning or demonstrating English or civics. A short generic letter saying someone is "too old," "does not speak English," or "has memory problems" almost never provides the nexus USCIS wants. I have seen those come back with requests for evidence, which costs months.
In-person or telehealth
USCIS can accept telehealth N-648 exams, but the provider has to comply with Nevada telehealth rules. If you are considering a remote option like Dr. Lisa Long & Associates, confirm where you must physically be during the exam, whether the provider is authorized to practice with you located in Nevada, whether the session is live and interactive, how interpreter certification is handled, and whether any required testing can be done remotely.
For applicants with complicated medical histories, spotty internet, limited comfort with technology, or a need for a physical exam, an in-person Las Vegas clinic is usually the more practical call.
Questions to ask before you book
Ask these before you pay a deposit:
- Are you an M.D., D.O., or licensed clinical psychologist authorized to certify Form N-648?
- Will you complete and sign the current USCIS form, or only give me a separate report?
- What impairment are you evaluating, and how will you document its connection to English or civics?
- Will you review records from my treating doctors, hospitals, or caregivers?
- Is cognitive, psychological, or lab testing included?
- Is the appointment in person or by telehealth, and if telehealth, are you authorized while I am in Nevada?
- Is an interpreter required, permitted, or included in the fee?
- What is the complete cost, including records review, testing, interpretation, rush service, and form completion?
- How long will the evaluation and completed form take?
- Will the finished form go directly to me or my attorney, and do I get a copy?
If a provider gets cagey on question one or two, that is your answer. Move on.
What to bring to the appointment
Both the USCIS requirements and Partida Corona's published checklist point to the same materials. Gather these before you go:
- Government photo ID and immigration documents (green card, A-number, USCIS notices)
- Current medication list with dosages
- Medical records tied to the impairment: physician progress notes, hospital records, imaging or lab results
- Any psychological, cognitive, or neuropsychological testing
- Contact information for treating providers and caregivers
- Prior diagnoses and treatment history
- Any previously filed N-648 or USCIS correspondence
- A signed authorization letting the provider request relevant records
- An interpreter, if the clinic requires you to bring your own
The more complete your records, the stronger the nexus explanation the provider can write, and the fewer follow-up requests you invite from USCIS.
Frequently asked questions
Is an N-648 a citizenship test waiver? Not automatically. It is a request for an exception that USCIS reviews. A qualified provider documents the medical basis; USCIS decides whether it is enough.
Can Partida Corona guarantee my waiver gets approved? No provider can, and you should be skeptical of any that claims otherwise. What a clinic like Partida Corona can do is conduct the exam, review your records, and complete the form properly, which is what gives your request its best shot.
Is the N-648 the same as the immigration physical (I-693)? No. The I-693 is the general immigration medical exam done by a civil surgeon. The N-648 is a separate disability certification tied to the English and civics requirements. A physician can perform both, but they are different services.
How much does an N-648 evaluation cost in Las Vegas? Published psychologist fees in the area run roughly $1,000 to $2,000. Partida Corona does not publish a set N-648 price, so request the full quote up front, including any testing and form completion.
How recent does the certification need to be? Under the current USCIS Policy Manual, the form generally must be certified no more than 180 days before you file Form N-400, and it should be filed together with that application.