MR. PECCHIA WILL SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION.
Call Now (310) 750-6755 For A FREE, TELEPHONE CONSULTATION With Mr. Pecchia
Meet Mr. Pecchia
Mr. Pecchia's practice is limited exclusively to U.S. Immigration and Naturalization law. As an Immigration Lawyer, Mr. Pecchia handles Family, Marriage, Fiance'(e) visas, business, and general immigration matters with an emphasis on Entertainment (See below.) and Family-based Immigration. He assists individuals and their families obtain visas to work and live in the US on a temporary or permanent basis. He has helped many illegal aliens, and those with difficult cases, obtain permanent residence. He also assists individuals obtain US Citizenship. He accepts cases of individuals and companies in the motion picture, television, and music industries, legitimate stage, arts, professional sports, and other fields. Entertainment related clients may include, but are not be limited to: actors, actresses, directors, producers, writers, cinematographers, composers, dancers, bands, music groups, musicians, painters, professional and amateur athletes, sports teams, models, executives, chefs, and a host of others. Mr. Pecchia works with sponsoring companies, agents, personal managers, trade unions, and guilds. He is based in Los Angeles, CA, the heart of the entertainment industry.
His Philosophy
Mr. Pecchia takes great pride in giving each case his personal attention from the interview stage through final determination. He is accessible and makes himself available to his clients. He brings to each case not only his skills and experience in immigration law but also an appreciation and understanding of his clients' backgrounds and industries in which they work. Mr. Pecchia provides quality services at a very competitive price. See his biography.
Read Mr. Pecchia's Informative Article About The Benefits of Citizenship CLICK HERE
Working in the Film or Music Industry?
See Below As Well as Other Sections of Site For other Categories
A Few Types of Visas (Yes, there are many.)
Work (Temporary)
Athletes, Artists, and Entertainers
O Visas
O-1 visas are available for individuals of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim, who are coming temporarily to the United States to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability. Though many individuals come into the U.S. for short durations, the terms can be given for an initial period of 3 years with exentsions in increments of 1 year. O-1 and O-3 can pursue permanent residence while in the U.S. in O status.
O-1 Visas for Persons of Extraordinary Ability in the Arts, Athletics, Science, Business, and Education
The H nonimmigrant category covers a wide spectrum of workers entering the United States on a temporary basis in order to fill the needs of U.S. employers. The category applies to persons in specialty occupations, fashion models of distinguished merit and ability; temporary workers coming to the United States to perform nonagricultural work of a temporary nature (H-2B); and other H jobs as well.
H-1B
Individuals who may be eligible for this visa must have a college degree or its equivalent in work experience, or be a distinguished fashion model. They must be working in their specialty occupration and have a job offer from a qualified U.S. employer and be offered at least the prevailing wage and a certificate of attestation from the U.S. Departments of Labor. You must have the proper background for the job. There are other requirements. The visa is granted for 3 years at a time with a maimum of 6 years. Spouse and unmarried children under 21 may apply for H-4 visas.
H-2B
Individuals may qualify for an H-2B visa if coming to the U.S. to work for a U.S. employer in a seaonal or temporary job. Individuals who come to the U.S. as trainers or entertainers who cannot meet the criteria of O or P visas may qualify for the H-2B. Typically, the period must be for a 1 year or less. When an individual qualifies for an H-2B visa spouse and children under 21 may accompany the person.
P Visas
P visas are used more for Artists, Athletes, and Culturally Unique Groups (groups or inividuals), coming to the U.S., as part of a group. Individual Athletes, however, may apply. Unlike O visas whose requirements are reviewed based upon inividual capabilities and recognitions, P visas are based, with certain exceptions, upon the expertise of the group. P visas are typically issued for the time needed to complete the particular event, tour, or season. Entertainment Groups and Atheletic Groups initially receive up to 1 year with extensions of stay in 1 year increments. Individual Athletes may initiailly get up to 5 years, with 1 extension allowed. Atheletes may remain in the U.S. for up to 10 years.
P-1 Entertainment Groups/Companies, Outstanding Athletes, and Athletic Teams. They are only available to individual entertainers who are coming to the U.S. as part of a group with an international reputation. However, an athlete may qualify individually or as part of a team.
P-2 classification applies to an alien who is coming temporarily to the United States to perform as an Artist or Entertainer, individually or as part of a group, or to perform as an integral part of the performance of such a group, and who seeks to perform under a reciprocal exchange program which is between an organization or organizations in the United States and an organization or organizations in one or more foreign states, and which provides for the temporary exchange of Artists and Entertainers , or groups of Aartists and Eentertainers.
P-3 visas are available to Artists and Entertainers who come to the U.S., either individually or a member of a group, to develop, perform, teach, or coach in a commercial or non-commercial program considered to be culturally unique.
P-4 visas are issued to accompanying relatives of any P visa wokers.
All P categories provide essential support personnel.
B-1 Visa
Athletes who receive no salary or remuneration only prize money for their participation in a tournament or sporting event, are eligible for the B-1 visa as business visitors. Athletes who seek to enter the United States as members of a foreign based team in order to compete with another sports team are also eligible for the B-1 visas.
B-2 Visa
An amateur Athlete or group of Athletes competing in an athletic event for which they will receive no payment, other than incidental expenses, are eligible for the B-2 visa as visitors for pleasure.
L Visas (Intracompany Transferees)
Manager, Executive or Person With Specialized Knowledge
The L-1 category applies to aliens who work for a company with a parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate in the U.S. These workers come to the U.S. as intracompany transferees who are coming temporarily to perform services either in a managerial or executive capacity (L-1A) or which entail specialized knowledge (L-1B) for a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of the same employer that employed the professional abroad. The employee must have been employed abroad for the corporation, firm, or other legal entity (or an affiliate or subsidiary thereof) on a full-time basis for at least one continuous year out of the last three-year period to qualify. There is currently no annual cap on L-1 visas.The employer is not required to obtain a labor certification prior to petitioning in this category. Compensation level is not prescribed, but U.S. income must be sufficient to prevent the alien from becoming a public charge. Dependents (i.e. spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age) of L-1 workers are entitled to L-2 status. Visas can be approved for only up to three years. Extensions of 2 years at a time may be allowed until the person has been in the U.S. for a total of 7 years if a manager or executive. Persons with specialized knowledge can get extentions totaling only 5 years.
Information provided on this site is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to be legal advice. Individuals should speak with an attorney knowledgeable in such matters concerning their particular situation. See Legal Disclaimer section of this site.
