Managing Partner Michael Wildes is pictured with firm’s client, Israeli singing sensation, Gad Elbaz, 6x world Samba Champion and 2019 World Salsa Champion, Alyssa Chriqui, and producer/director Zvika Bornstein. The firm obtained an O-1 visa for Gad Elbaz. Gad’s white themed birthday party was held at a private home in Long Island, New York. August 2019.
Gad Elbaz is an Israeli Jewish singing sensation who achieved international success at a very young age. From the time he was a youngster, he was composing his own material and appeared on stage with his father, Benny Elbaz, also a popular Israeli singer. Gad has recorded several albums, both in Hebrew and in English, and is known for capturing the ear of both the observant and secular listener. He hopes that his music can help bridge the gap between different people’s viewpoints during their lives.
Alyssa Chriqui is a dynamic and accomplished professional dancer/performer and choreographer who has toured with renowned musical theatre productions, performed and worked with world famous international artists and holds national & world championship titles in various forms of dance.
Producer/Director Zvika Bornstein’s works have been seen on national Broadway tours, as well as Off-Broadway, and productions in the United States, Europe and Israel.
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 three of the 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).
Wildes & Weinberg, P.C. was 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, the circumstances of which have inspired several films and documentaries. The firm specializes exclusively in the practice of U.S. immigration and nationality law, has a distinguished domestic and international clientele, and can assist with any type of immigration matter including employment and investment-based immigration, work permits, permanent residence for qualified individuals, family-based immigration, asylum applications, all temporary and permanent type visas, and U.S. citizenship.
In addition to running a highly successful immigration law practice, Michael is a three term Mayor in Englewood, New Jersey, is the author of Safe Haven in America: Battles to Open the Golden Door, which draws on over a quarter of a century of his practice in the immigration field, is an Adjunct Professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York, and serves as Counsel to Lincoln Center and several international/corporate law firms. Moreover, Michael is internationally renowned for his successful representation of distinguished individuals and corporate clients such as performing artists, directors, writers, models, actors/actresses, athletes, race car drivers, fine artists, art dealers, curators, musicians, photographers, stylists, and literary agents. Some of the firm’s other distinguished clients include scholar Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, as well as soccer icon Pele, Master Chef Jean-Georges and First Lady Melania Trump and her family.
Today, the firm of Wildes & Weinberg, maintains offices in New York City, New York, Englewood, New Jersey, Miami, Florida, and a presence in Los Angeles, California and continues to maintain its stellar reputation in the field of U.S. Immigration & Nationality Law.
For more information on the O-1 visa category, please visit our Immigration 101 page or contact Michael Wildes at michael@wildeslaw.com.