Monthly Archives: March 2022

Episode 14: No Mr. Bond, I Expect You to Die – Domestic Service Worker Visas with Oddjob from 007: Goldfinger

In this episode, Shai and Roderick figure out what type of U.S. visa one of the most famous henchman in the James Bond franchise would have needed to act as Servant, Chauffeur, Caddy, and Body Guard to all-time great Bond Villain, Auric Goldfinger.

The visa principles they will explore include the B-1 Domestic Service Worker Visa. Plus, our co-hosts count down the best Bond movies ever made, give their recommendations for the next actor to play James Bond, and talk James Bond watches and cars.

Listen to the Episode

Show Notes

Welcome to The Hasta La Visa, Baby podcast, a deep-dive into the relationship between U.S. immigration law and fictitious characters from some of your favorite television shows and movies. Hosted by Gibney Immigration group attorneys Shai Dayan and Roderick Potts, each episode focuses on a particular character from a well-known show or film and guides listeners through an in-depth and entertaining exploration into the possible U.S. visa status that the featured character may have held while in the U.S. Listeners will learn about key immigration considerations through the prism of the fun and fictitious worlds presented in television and film.

Today’s episode takes on a classic, all-time great movie: Goldfinger! Goldfinger (1964) is the third movie in the James Bond series, the first movie in which Bond requests his signature martini “shaken, not stirred,” and the template for what we consider the quintessential 007 film to be. The movie focuses on the conflict between Bond and Goldfinger, a gold smuggler. From a woman killed and painted gold to a Fort Knox showdown and the threat of radiation, the movie follows the twists and turns of Bond’s work to defeat Goldfinger. While both Bond and Goldfinger would have needed visas to be in the US for the events that transpired there, Shai and Roderick choose to focus their attention as immigration detectives on another character: Goldfinger’s “manservant” and arguably the most famous Bond movie henchman, Oddjob.

Shai and Roderick think that the most likely visa for Oddjob is the B-1 Domestic Service Visa. This visa is appropriate for a variety of service roles, including Oddjob’s butler-type job.

To qualify for the B-1 visa, an applicant needs a sponsor and a contract outlining acceptable stipulations for work. If working for another foreign national, the B-1 recipient can only stay in the US as long as the employer does, and otherwise the visa term can be up to a year at first and extended for 6-12 months at a time after that.

In their hypothetical consultation with Oddjob, Shai and Roderick talk him through his options to stay in the US for the longer term, and explain how Oddjob’s criminal activities endanger his immigration status. They leave listeners with their top three 007 movies, Goldfinger takeaways, and a hint of next month’s episode on The Birdcage!

Links:

Check out the movie featured in this episode: Goldfinger.
Learn more about the B-1 visa.
Learn more about Shai Dayan, Roderick Potts, and Gibney Anthony & Flaherty, LLP.
Connect with us at hastalavisa@gibney.com.
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