Managing Partner Michael Wildes is proud to announce the approval of the petition filed to secure O-2 classification for widely recognized sound engineer and monitor engineer, Ilias Andrianatos.
Ilias Andrianatos has led an illustrious career in the music industry over the last decade. He has worked as a Live Sound Engineer and Monitor Engineer professionally for many years with a number of popular bands internationally. He has worked on some of the largest music festivals around the world, including Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds in the U.K., Coachella and Lollapalooza in the U.S., Fuji Rock and Ultrasonic in Japan, and Splendour in the Grass, and Big Day Out in Australia. He has also worked on the Closing Ceremony of the London Olympics, as well as in some of the biggest stadiums in the world such as the Olympic Stadium in London; Stade de France; Maracana BR; Cape Town Stadium; FNB Stadium SA; and many arenas, theaters and clubs throughout the world. He has also worked on many radio sessions and TV appearances including on BBC Radio1 and Radio 2, Talk Sport, Jules Holland, MTV, David Letterman, and many others. Ilias Andrianatos has been engaged to serve as Monitor Engineer in support of Francois “Mido” El-Alfy, Tour Manager for the popular rock band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC) for the band’s upcoming U.S. tours.
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).
An O-2 visa is issued to individuals who provide support to the O-1 visa holder who is employed in the field of arts, athletics, motion picture and television production.
For more than fifty eight 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-1/2 visa category, please visit our Immigration 101 page or contact Michael Wildes at michael@wildeslaw.com.