Managing Partner Michael Wildes is pleased to announce that Wildes & Weinberg has secured an O-1 visa approval on behalf of orchestral conductor Reona Ito based on his extraordinary ability and success in the arts.
Wildes & Weinberg obtained O-1 status for renowned orchestral conductor Reona Ito. On March 18th, 2008, Mr. Ito made a debut as an opera conductor with W. A. Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” at the Goldstein Theatre, and also made a Carnegie debut on June 25th in the same year. These concerts were reviewed by multiple newspapers and magazines. Among them, Ongaku no Tomo (“Musician’s Friend”), one of the most famous and authoritative music journals in Japan, says; “[In the Reona Ito’s Carnegie concert]he conducted all from memory, and showed the audience his sincerity toward music”. Mr. Ito was invited to conduct the February 2013 Carnegie Hall concert of The University of Tokyo Alumni Choir, one of the choruses that have the longest tradition and history in Japan. His direction of the Reona Ito Chamber Orchestra performing the Cherubini’s Requiem in D minor reached more than 2000 audiences, and was complimented by many including the Tokyo Alumni Choir itself. In October 2014 Mr. Ito received the American Prize in Orchestral Conducting (Professional Orchestra Division), one of the most prestigious national prizes for classical musicians in the US.
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.
