Managing Partner Michael Wildes is pictured with composer Murray Hidary, creator of Mind Travel, who recently performed his real-time piano composition in Central Park, NYC and Paolo Tatafiore, world-renowned pianist and piano teacher hailing from Italy, and O-1 visa client of the firm.
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.
In order to qualify for an O-1 visa which allows individuals of extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, athletics, education or business to live and work in the United States, a foreign national must provide adequate documentation to demonstrate that he/she has sustained national or international acclaim in their field.
In addition, the individual must provide substantial evidence to prove that he/she meets 3 of the 6 evidence categories defined by statute, as well as a written advisory opinion from a labor union or relevant peer group. The O-1 visa applicant must also show that he/she has an offer of employment in the United States to work in his/her field of expertise (or several offers of employment from multiple sources, along with a third-party Agent to petition on the individual’s behalf and connect him/her to the multiple employers).
For more than fifty six years, the firm of Wildes & Weinberg has concentrated its practice in all aspects of U.S. immigration and nationality law, servicing the immigration requirements of prominent American and International individuals and corporations, banks, industrial, financial and manufacturing concerns, and law firms in connection with the personnel needs of their foreign national employees. In addition, the firm has a distinguished clientele and has done substantial immigration work for investors, scientists, physicians, bankers, performing artists, directors, writers, models, actors, athletes, fine artists, art dealers, curators, musicians, and literary agents.
For more information on the O-1 visa category, which allows individuals of extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, athletics, education and business to live and work in the United States, please visit our Immigration 101 page or contact Michael Wildes at michael@wildeslaw.com.
