"My expertise in these exact areas was fundamental for my successful immigration
and self sponsored permanent residency in the U.S."
- Mariana
Who are we?
Mariana Marques da Cunha is our navigator
Wife and Mother
Former COO of a High Frequency Trading Company in Chicago (H1-B) (7 years) (until 2025)
Former International Tax Partner with Ernst & Young in Brazil (9 years)
25+ Years advising Fortune 500 & High-Net-Worth Individuals on cross-border tax, M&A and corporate restructuing
Presenter at multiples venues, including Rio de Janeiro, New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Oslo, Bergen, Calgary and Toronto.
LL.M. in International Taxation - NYU - 1st Brazilian national to be accepted into the course (1999-2000)
Bachelor of Laws - PUC-Rio de Janeiro - partial scholarship as member of the PUC women's volleyball team
Harvard Law Executive Education - Instruction for Lawyers (1998)
Admitted to the NY Bar (since 2004)
Admitted to the Brazil OAB Bar
2-year International Assignment (L-1) with Ernst & Young from Rio de Janeiro to Houston
Former Junior Partner - Barbosa, Mussnich & Aragao in Rio de Janeiro (Top-5 Brazil law firm)
2-Year International Assignment (L-1) with Deloitte from Rio de Janeiro to New York
Former Tony Robbins Platinum Partner (2012-2013)
Certified Coach (Latin America Society of Coaching), NLP Business Practitioner (Richard Bandler), DISC Certified, Non-Verbal Communication (Michael Grinder), Negotiating with the Power of Nice (Jeffrey P. Cochrane)
Co-Founder and former volunteer at Non-For-Profit Instituto Dawn Watson, in Brazil, serving individuals who were victims of abuse (2 years)
Founder of Projeto Pense (human development platform), in Brazil (2 years)
Member of Awaken Leaders to Awaken the World (3 times at Oneness University, Chennai, India)
Avid Beach Volleyball Lover, Traveller (41 countries) and Scuba Diver
Former Co-captain of the Rio de Janeiro State U17 Girls Volleyball Team (1989) - placing 2nd in the Brazilian State Championship
VELA Advisory Group’s Mission to Facilitate Expats in Their U.S. Journey
Founded to assist expatriates with immigration, tax and financial challenges and decisions.
Principles That Guide VELA Advisory Every Day
We care about you and we have been where you are.
We know the challenges.
We know the stress.
And we know the lack of commitment and dedication to immigrants in general.
We are guided by integrity, cultural respect, personalized attention, and expert knowledge, placing your needs at the center of everything we do.
Our work is based on fostering trust and lasting relationships. Our growth depends on immaculate timely services, referrals and testimonials.
Expert Knowledge
We only work with the best in what they do. Big letterheads do not mean competence and dedication to your particular case and we know that first-hand.
Personalized Attention
Each client receives tailored strategies that consider their individual circumstances, options and goals.
Integrity and Cultural Sensitivity
We uphold honesty and transparency in every consultation and recommendation. No generic or lousy excuses as most providers assume the immigrant will not push back. Understanding U.S. culture enables us to deliver customized, empathetic support. Cultural differences between the U.S. and other countries can be a real shock.
Meet Our Expert Team and Learn How We Can Assist You
Book below a 30-minute free discovery call with advisors who know the rules and actually care about you and your journey.
Contact our team to
start your U.S. expat journey today.
E-mail: us.velaadvisory@gmail.com