EB1 Matt, Scottish BAFTA Winner, Director

EB1 – Matt – Director

I’m an artist from the UK who’s been making short and feature length films for over 20 years. My practice has also crossed over into art gallery exhibition and on top of that, work in education and curation. I’ve always had an affinity with the US, traveling to the country often for a variety of cultural reasons and connections. In the back of my mind I’ve always wondered what my future might look like if I were able to explore work freely in the country.

It was a combination of several months artist’s residency in North Carolina and a developing relationship with a US citizen that encouraged me to seek out the advice of Chris Ingram. He came highly recommended by a fellow Scot film maker who’s based in LA.

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I didn’t want to rush into a marriage situation in order to secure a Visa and I wasn’t sure at all what my options were, nor how valuable the track record of my work might seem to US immigration. In the UK my work has been perceived as somewhat unorthodox – I don’t necessarily tick the conventional boxes and as such my case is rather an unusual one, and needed careful and considered handling and nuancing.

After an early in-depth conversation with Chris, he was able to persuade me that I stood a good chance of securing EB1 ‘Alien of Extraordinary Ability’ status (and thus a Green Card), based primarily on a number of awards and press coverage I had received over the years – including a Scottish BAFTA. I had assumed such an opportunity to be well out of my reach, both professionally and financially, so I was surprised and inspired by his positivity and ambition on my behalf. Even now that I have the official paperwork in my hand, it’s really not sunk in. It takes the experienced view and mature consideration of an attorney with considerable experience such as Chris (and his team) to accurately assess a client’s very best outcome. I really appreciate the faith and belief they placed in my (extraordinary!) ability, because I certainly had been unable to see, nor actively realize the full value of my talents in this regard. I was, I suppose, typically ‘British’ in downplaying my achievements and forever lowering my horizons.

The case was further complicated by the fact that I had pushed my ESTA tourist Visa to the very max. I had never outstayed the 90 days, but had spent enough time on repeated occasions that a red flag had gone up, and on one trip I was pulled aside and placed under inquisition on entry into the US. This of course made me really nervous, and as Chris put it I needed I was ‘standing on a burning platform’ and needed to ‘fish, or cut bait’. So together we agreed to up the stakes, and come back with a really convincing case that US immigration could not fault – and indeed this is what was achieved.

Chris and his team were very patient, careful, generous and helpful during the complicated preparation stages of my case. I was traveling the US with a heavy box full of documents for evidence – twenty years worth of film festival brochures, award certificates, all sorts of evidence – and I provided them with a huge amount of material to assess, judge and refine. My field of work is esoteric, so they needed to do a good amount of research to understand and assess the value of my achievements, and then convey this coherently and convincingly to immigration. I can see that it’s a tricky balancing act between providing enough information and yet not overwhelming the person assessing the case, and this knowledge comes from their experience – it’s not something I could have judged nor collated myself – so their role in this ‘interpretation’ stage was crucial.

The team also went above and beyond expectation by helping me prepare for a (successful) B Visa application at short notice – free of charge! – an interim measure required to help me gain entry to the US so that I could continue to build my relationship, and connections with organizations and individuals in my field of practice. This ‘human touch’ and generosity was invaluable during a time of emotional and financial insecurity and I am very grateful indeed for the imagination,  care, understanding and patient good humor that was shown towards me.

I shall be recommending Chris and his team highly to others who may be seeking a route through the tricky US immigration process. I have been well looked after and at every stage have been able to understand and trust the process. It’s a life-changing process that’s not to be taken on lightly, and you really do need the support, experience and insight of an attorney such as Chris Ingram and his team to pull of the results you’re after, securely and with panache.

Select Your 3 EB1 Categories

Checkout these EB1 green card categories below. If you can satisfy three categories, then you may just qualify for your green card. Good luck.

EB1 – Green Card – Checklist Summary

EB1 – One Time International Award

EB1 – Visa Award Nomination or Win

EB1 – Invited Memberships

EB1 – Publications About You

EB1 – Participation on Judging Panel

EB1 – Innovation or Invention

EB1 – Published Scholarly Articles

B1 – Exhibitions and Showcases

EB1 – Leading or Critical Roles

EB1 – High Salary or Remuneration

EB1 – Commercial Success in Arts

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EB1 – Ok Let’s Get Started

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Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram

US Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram
Chris M. Ingram LL.M., ESQ – Immigration Attorney
Admitted in New York.
Practice Specializing in US Immigration Law
401 Wilshire Boulevard, 12th Floor,
Santa Monica,
California 90401
Tel: 310 496 4292

Specializing in the E2 Visa, EB1 Green Card, L-1A Visa and O1 Visa and K1 Visa Marriage-Based Immigration. Attorney Chris M. Ingram is dedicated to providing the very best in US Immigration legal representation. Enjoy our website.

Important Notice: Please note that all videos created by the Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram are intended as general information only and not specific legal advice pertaining your case. If you would like specific legal advice on any immigration matter please do not hesitate to contact this law office accordingly. All pictorial images used in these videos and the website in general are licensed stocked images and not portraits, or otherwise, of anyone from the Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram, nor of its clients unless otherwise indicated by name. All images are used solely for illustrative purposes only. Copyright 2010-2015 All Rights Reserved.