Maria Hernandez

Maria Hernandez is an immigration consultant based in Woodbridge, Virginia, who founded her own consulting business less than a year ago after earning her green card and relocating to the United States. With approximately 21 years of experience in the field, she previously worked for the U.S. State Department in Mexico City as fraud prevention supervisor, leading a team to prevent fraud in accessing consular services. Earlier in her career, while studying international relations at the National University of Mexico (UNAM), she provided accreditation services for diplomats through the Mexican Foreign Affairs Ministry. Maria holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from UNAM, completed a specialization in managerial skills at the University of California at Irvine, began but did not finish a triple master's program in international law and private international law at a university in Spain, and received change management training. Her work focuses on helping individuals, particularly from Latin American communities, navigate the U.S. legal system for immigration matters and non-immigrant visas, access services, and prepare for requests, driven by her observations of misinformation and exploitation. She has also mentored young students through her alumni network in Washington, D.C., and previously mentored students in El Salvador. Among her notable professional experiences are coordinating emergency consular services, including disaster evacuations, medical evacuations, securing travel documents for stranded individuals, and recovering abducted children during her time with the State Department.