Oleg Otten, yacht visa lawyer at Robert Allen Law, spoke at the Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee’s CLE event during The Florida Bar’s Winter Meeting in Orlando, Florida on January 26, 2024. His presentation, “Immigration Issues in the Yacht Industry,” provided an overview of crewmember visas, including private yacht crew visas; the difference between a commercial and a private yacht; the U.S. government agencies which administer, oversee, and regulate such visas; and practical tips for dealing with excessive visa appointment wait times and errors with crewmembers’ immigration status when entering the U.S.
Robert Allen Law, with offices in Miami and Palm Beach, assists domestic and foreign clients with a wide array of legal matters. The firm represents yacht builders, distributors, brokers, maritime lenders, and private buyers and sellers in transactions involving purchase and charter agreements, ship mortgages, marine related contracts, and commercial & maritime litigation. The firm also assists clients with their business immigration, real estate, and tax planning needs. Robert Allen Law attorneys are fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, and Russian.