Managing Partner Michael Wildes is pleased to announce that Wildes & Weinberg has obtained P-1 approval for the 10 members of the performance troupe that performs the award-winning, culturally significant play, “While I Was Waiting.”
Internationally Acclaimed Director Omar Abusaada, and his performance troupe will present While I Was Waiting at the Lincoln Center Festival which will celebrate its 22nd season in July 2017. Michael will be a special guest at the opening performance tonight.
“While I Was Waiting”, directed by Omar Abusaada and written by Mohammad Al Attar is a chilling reflection on the aftermath of political upheaval in the Syrian capital through the eyes of the family of Taim, a young man who fell into a coma after between beaten by unknown attackers in Damascus. Its performance at the Lincoln Center Festival this July will be the play’s North American premiere. Created by internationally acclaimed Director and Playwright Omar Abusaada and Mohammad Al-Attar each member of the “While I Was Waiting” performance troupe enjoys international acclaim of their own. The “While I Was Waiting” troupe has performed at numerous prestigious venues and at distinguished events around the world, in countries including Greece, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Bosnia, Italy among many others. While there is always great cultural significance in live theater, this play is an important piece of our time given the global turmoil we are experiencing and as it travels internationally, it becomes increasingly important to make its way to U.S. audiences.
Michael has had the privilege of serving as immigration counsel to the Lincoln Center organization for the past several years.
Founded in 1960 by Michael’s father, Leon Wildes, whose best-known accomplishment was his successful representation of John Lennon in his widely publicized deportation proceedings, Wildes & Weinberg specializes exclusively in the practice of U.S. immigration and nationality law. More than fifty six years since its inception the firm continues to serve a distinguished domestic and international clientele and covers all areas of U.S. immigration law, including employment and investment-based immigration, work permits, permanent residence for qualified individuals, family-based immigration, asylum applications and all temporary and permanent type visas.
Moreover, the firm has a distinguished clientele and has done substantial immigration work for performing artists, directors, writers, models, actors/actresses, athletes, fine artists, art dealers, curators, and literary agents including Joe Cocker, Johnny Rotten, Paloma Picasso, numerous Miss Universes, supermodel Giselle Bundchen and Sarah Brightman, the world’s bestselling female classical artist of the twenty-first century.
In addition to running a highly successful immigration law practice, Michael is also of counsel to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and two international/corporate law firms. A former Federal Prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn (1989-1993), Michael has testified on Capitol Hill in connection with anti-terrorism legislation, and is a frequent participant on professional panels and commentator on network television and radio with regard to US immigration law, employer sanction work and compliance.
Michael also served two terms as the Mayor of Englewood, New Jersey, was appointed to the District Appeals Board of the Selective Service System for the State of New Jersey, was a member of the New Jersey Governor’s Blue Panel on Immigration, and has been a guest lecturer at many distinguished forums and institutions including Yale University, New York University, Brooklyn Law School, and The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where Michael is an Adjunct Professor of Business Immigration Law.
Despite difficulties currently being encountered in dealing with U.S. immigration authorities, Wildes & Weinberg has maintained an extraordinary track record for success for its cases. In addition, the firm’s multilingual staff is known for its experience and special expertise in processing each foreign national’s case with nothing less than the highest level of professionalism.
Today, the firm of Wildes & Weinberg maintains offices in New York City, New York, Englewood, New Jersey, Miami, Florida, and Los Angeles, California.
For a related article on the P-1 visa, see “Athletes, P-1 Visas, and the NBA” by Michael son’s Josh Wildes.
Please contact Managing Partner Michael Wildes at Michael@wildeslaw.com to schedule a consultation or for media inquiries.
