Managing Partner Michael Wildes zooms with student, Khensani Mathebula. Through her own personal immigration journey, Khensani first gained interest in business immigration law.
“I first gained interest in business immigration law as a client. I am from South Africa and have lived in New York City for 10 years. During this time, I successfully applied for two student visas and an O-1 Extraordinary Ability visa before attending law school. I saw the value of the work done by business immigration attorneys when I worked with a firm for my O-1 visa, and knew pursuing the opportunities I had secured as an artist was dependent on the success of that process. Experiencing the process myself ignited my interest in advocating on behalf of other immigrants to help them successfully navigate the immigration system in order to pursue the opportunities they secure in the United States. My interest was strengthened while taking a “Business Immigration, Workforce, and Compliance Law” class with Mayor Michael Wildes, the Managing Partner of Wildes & Weinberg P.C., and was again reinforced when I shadowed client meetings at his firm. This knowledge combined with the legal research, writing, and advocacy skills I have refined on Moot Court Honor Society have equipped me well to persuasively represent the facts of each client’s case and to fiercely advocate for clients like my business immigration attorney did for me.” Khensani Mathebula
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 also currently serving his third term as Mayor of 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 has 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 our firm please visit www.wildeslaw.com or contact Michael Wildes at michael@wildeslaw.com.