Managing Partner Michael Wildes is proud to announce the approval of the petition filed on behalf of APM Model Management to secure O-1 classification for international fashion model Clementine Balcaen. April 2019.
Among many accomplishments, Ms. Balcaen has been an exclusive model for Louis Vuitton during the past three seasons.
APM Models is a boutique model management firm representing international and local models alike in New York City. Established in 1996 in Manhattan’s historic Union Square neighborhood, the agency has become a celebrated name in the New York fashion world. APM represents models in the highly competitive and influential fashion and advertising industries with the goal of securing significant and profitable editorial and advertising assignments with leading U.S. and international clients. APM’s distinguished approach speaks for itself in that they have provided fashion models for such world renowned clients as L’Oreal, Marc Jacobs, Vogue, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Armani, Saint Laurent, Adidas, and Diane Von Furstenberg, among many notable others. Furthermore, APM models have shot with famed photographers such as Thierry LeGoues, Jason Kibbler, and Matthew Priestly to name a few.
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).
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, Wildes & Weinberg specializes exclusively in the practice of U.S. immigration and nationality law. More than fifty nine 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.
In addition to running a highly successful immigration law practice, Michael was recently sworn-in as Mayor of Englewood, New Jersey, has just released his newly authored book, 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, 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 several Miss Universe winners 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.