Sylvia Ontaneda-Bernales

Sylvia Ontaneda-Bernales

  • Immigration Law
  • Maryland
Badges
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial MediaResponsive Law
Biography

An attorney licensed in Maryland and DC, Ms. Ontaneda-Bernales has also been admitted to the United States Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. She has founded the Law Offices of Sylvia Ontaneda-Bernales (Maryland), Ontaneda-Bernales Law (Nevada), and Ontaneda-Bernales LLC (New Mexico). Her Immigration practice includes Relative Petitions, Fiance Visas, Naturalizations, Green Card Applications, Business and Investor Visas, and DACA, among other Immigration-related services. As a mediator, she has worked for the District Court of Maryland ADR Program. She is also a Spanish language consultant, translator, and interpreter listed in the Maryland Court Interpreter Registry. Ms. Ontaneda-Bernales memberships include various professional organizations and is Past President (2009-2010) of the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association. She obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from the George Washington University National Law Center, and holds an MA in journalism as well as a dual BA in journalism and social psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is a graduate of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Lima, Peru (BA). Her journalistic career encompasses both the print and broadcast media and includes work as a freelance feature writer, book and newsletter editor, literary translator, television producer, documentary producer/director, and media consultant. Governor Martin O'Malley appointed Ms. Ontaneda-Bernales to the Maryland Health Care Commission in 2007 and in 2010 to the Commission to Study the Impact of Immigrants in Maryland. In 2010 Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake appointed her to the Wage Commission. In 2008, The Daily Record, a legal news daily, named her one of Maryland's Top 100 Women. Super Lawyers Magazine named her a Maryland Rising Star in January 2011, 2012 and 2013. Baltimore Magazine has also ranked her as Top Lawyer in Maryland.

Practice Area
Immigration Law
Asylum, Citizenship, Deportation Defense, Family Visas, Green Cards, Immigration Appeals, Investment Visas, Marriage & Fiancé(e) Visas, Student Visas, Visitor Visas, Work Visas
Fees
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Flat fees available.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Bar
-
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
Maryland
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish: Spoken, Written
Education
The George Washington University Law School
J.D. (2002) | Law
-
The George Washington University Law School Logo
University of Nevada-Reno
M.A. (1997) | Journalism
-
University of Nevada-Reno Logo
University of Nevada-Reno
B.A. (1993) | Journalism and Social Psychology
-
Dual BA, WITH DISTINCTION
University of Nevada-Reno Logo
Professional Associations
Maryland State Bar
Member
- Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Website
Contact & Map
Oontaneda-Bernales
American Immigration & Mediation Services
P. O. BOX 7702
Reno, NV 89510
Telephone: (775) 636-8038
Law Office of Sylvia Ontaneda-Bernales
120 E Baltimore St
Baltimore, MD 21202
Telephone: (410) 347-7662