Managing Partner Michael Wildes is delighted to announce that Wildes & Weinberg P.C. has secured an O-1 approval on behalf of Mr. Steven Fairweather based on his extraordinary musical talent and the success of his band, Gob. With this O-1 approval, Steven will be to perform with Gob as they embark on their U.S. tour.
Steven Fairweather has sustained national acclaim in Canada for his masterful talent as a bass guitarist for popular punk rock band Gob, which he joined in 2008. Since 1993, Gob has released seven albums, received two JUNO award nominations, and toured major festivals such as Amnesia Rock Fest and Vans Warped Tour. Their latest album “Apt. 13,” which was released in 2014, skyrocketed to the top of Canadian rock charts, and Gob toured throughout Canada due to popular demand. A prolific musician, Steven has also served as bassist for post-hardcore band By a Thread and released two solo albums.
Mr. Wildes is honored to have secured O-1 Visa classification for Steven Fairweather so that he is permitted to bring his electric performances to the U.S.
The O-1 visa classification is a non-immigrant visa classification for temporary workers, granted by the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) to an individual “who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.” There are also accompanying visa categories available to certain individuals who provide essential support to O-1 visa holders, and derivative immigration status available to immediate family members of O-1 visa holders.
For more than 50 years, Wildes & Weinberg, P.C. has concentrated its practice in all aspects of U.S. immigration and nationality law, servicing the immigration needs of prominent American and International firms, banks, industrial, financial and manufacturing concerns and law firms in connection with the personnel needs of their foreign national employees.
In addition, Wildes & Weinberg, P.C. has a distinguished clientele and have done substantial immigration work for performing artists, directors, writers, models, actors/actresses, athletes, fine artists, art dealers, curators, and literary agents, including John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Joe Cocker, Johnny Rotten, Paloma Picasso, the 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008 Miss Universes, supermodel Giselle Bundchen, and Sarah Brightman, the world’s bestselling female classical artist of the twenty-first century.
For more information on the O-1 visa category, which allows individuals of extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, athletics, business and education to live and work in the United States, please visit our Immigration 101 page or contact Managing Partner Michael Wildes at michael@wildeslaw.com.