Managing Partner Michael Wildes is pleased to announce that Wildes & Weinberg P.C. has secured O-1 Extraordinary Ability visa classification on behalf of Ms. Sivan Rahav-Meir, an internationally renowned journalist, lecturer, author, and TV personality.
Ms. Rahav-Meir has established herself as an individual of extraordinary ability and by virtue of her accomplishments, which are detailed below, has risen to the very top of her field of endeavor. Ms. Rahav-Meir is a renowned Jewish public figure and thinker who has attained vast recognition and popularity for her lectureship and authorship about Jewish studies and heritage. In recognition of her extraordinary work, Ms. Rahav-Meir was chosen by the Globes magazine as the “most popular female media personality in Israel”; as one of the “50 most influential people in Israel” by the Liberal magazine; “50 most influential Jews in the world” by the The Jerusalem Post newspaper; and as “50 most powerful women” by Forbes Israel. Ms. Sivan Rahav-Meir is known for her lead roles as a prime time reporter for Israel’s Channel 12 news, a columnist for a popular newspaper, host for the weekly radio show, author of Bestseller books, creator of The Daily WhatsApp with 40,000 followers, and her lectures on the weekly Torah portion are attended by hundreds and the live broadcast attracts thousands more listeners throughout the world. Ms. Rahav-Meir lectures in Israel and overseas about Journalism, Judaism, Zionism and New Media. Clearly, she has sustained significant acclaim as a powerful female thinker and lecturer in Judaism. It has been our Firm’s honor to work with and represent Ms. Rahav-Meir.
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.