VISAS FOR ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY WORKERS

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

7:00 - 8:30 P.M.

With Helen A. Sklar, Esq. & Michele A. Buchanan, Esq.

 

Join California Lawyers for the Arts for an interactive workshop that will cover the application process for foreign artists and entertainment industry personnel to obtain U.S. visas and work authorizations. Participants will be able to determine whether a work visa is needed or whether entering as a business visitor will suffice. Participants will be introduced to the government agencies and other entities involved in the process, and they will understand the important definitions of terms including "extraordinary ability," "extraordinary achievement," and "sustained acclaim." Participants will also understand how U.S. Immigration applies the standards for O & P visas and the EB-1 & EB-2 immigrant visas, and who is likely to qualify. They will review the mechanics of a case from beginning to end, from planning through consultation, filing and decision. Lastly, they will touch on appeals, waivers of inadmissibility, change of status and extensions of status.

 

WHERE: Ken Edwards Center, 1527 Fourth Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Free parking is available after 6 P.M. in the garage at the Ken Edwards Center

ADMISSION: General: $20, AWF Members: $10

REGISTER: Email: jennie.park@calawyersforthearts.org and mention you are from "AWF" to receive discounted admission rate. (If emailing, include your phone number, mailing address, and workshop date(s)

 

These workshops were made possible, in part, by support provided by the California Arts Council, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the California Community Foundation.

 

SPEAKERS Info:

Helen A. Sklar is certified by the California State Bar as a specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law. She has served on the Immigration and Nationality Law Advisory Commission of the State Bar. Since 1985, Ms. Sklar has represented hundreds of applicants for benefits both in immigration court as well as before Citizenship and Immigration Services, for immigrant and non-immigrant visas, and employment-based and family-based applications. She has prepared visas for artists, entertainers, fiancés, religious workers, and students, and is known for her ability to take difficult cases to successful completion. She was a national and local chapter asylum liaison for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and now serves on the AILA National UPL/Consumer Protection Committee and the LACBA Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee.

Michele A. Buchanan has 21 years of experience in the field of immigration law. She served as Chair of the Southern California Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and has lectured and published on various immigration topics. She has represented a diverse clientele, including multinational corporations, individual business investors, animation studios, film and television production companies, professionals, directors, actors, directors of photography, animators, special effects artists, musicians, and other artists, and has accompanied clients applying for U.S. visas at the American Embassies/Consulates in Juarez, Toronto, Halifax and Seoul. Currently Ms. Buchanan’s law practice is focused on EB-5 employment creation investor cases. Ms. Buchanan is conversant in Mandarin Chinese.