Managing Partner Michael Wildes recently penned an article “Help From Abroad – Visa Options For The Hospitality Industry”, for HotelExecutive.com.
For hotel owners, nightlife managers and hospitality groups: there are steep advantages to hiring foreign staff members, in addition to simply filling unpopular, low-wage positions. From a financial perspective, certain foreign workers are exempt from federal payroll taxes. Furthermore, most visa programs used by hotel owners rely heavily on outside recruiters, lessening an employers’ administrative burdens related to sourcing and screening workers. Regardless of the size: U.S. visas entail a relatively quick and easy application process. This article is designed to assist those in the hotel industry by exploring the most common visa option used: the J-1.
Michael Wildes is the managing partner with the leading immigration law firm of Wildes and Weinberg, P.C. He serves as counsel to several hotel chains; hospitality groups and several international/corporate law firms. He is an adjunct professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York and teaches Business Immigration Law. He is a former federal prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn (1989-1993). Having represented the United States government in immigration proceedings, Michael Wildes is a frequent participant on professional panels and commentator on network television and radio with regard to corporate immigration law, employer sanction work and compliance. He has testified on Capitol Hill in connection with anti-terrorism legislation and is internationally renowned for his successful representation of distinguished individuals and corporate clients.
Mr. Wildes represents many performing artists, directors, writers, models, actors/actresses, athletes, race car drivers, fine artists, art dealers, curators, and literary agents. His boutique law firm specializes exclusively in the practice of U.S. immigration and nationality law. It was established in 1960 by his father Leon Wildes whose best known accomplishment was his successful representation of John Lennon in his widely publicized deportation proceedings, the circumstances of which have inspired several films, documentaries, and a recent book that Michael Wildes wrote the Foreword. More than fifty 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. Some of Michael Wildes recent clients include famed artists Sarah Brightman, Lionel Richie, Boy George, many of the former Miss Universes’ as well as soccer icon Pele, master Chef Jean-Georges, and other talented artists. He was also the mayor of Englewood, New Jersey, where he resides. Wildes and Weinberg, P.C. has offices in New York City, Miami, New Jersey and Los Angeles.
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 J-1 visa category or any other immigration related visas, visit our Immigration 101 page or contact Michael Wildes at michael@wildeslaw.com