It used to be actors, musicians, and dancers who filled the roster of applicants for the U.S. O-1B visa, a permit reserved for artists with “extraordinary ability.”
But today, the most common applicants are often social media stars and adult content creators.
Immigration attorneys across the country say they’re seeing a flood of influencers and OnlyFans models applying for and receiving these highly selective visas.
In fact, some say these digital creators now make up more than half their clientele.
“I knew the days of representing iconic names like Boy George and Sinéad O’Connor were over,” said New York-based immigration lawyer Michael Wildes.
“Scroll kings and queens” now dominate his caseload, he told the Financial Times.
How the Artist Visa Works
The O-1B visa is meant for individuals with “extraordinary ability in the arts.” It was originally designed to serve actors, musicians, directors, and other performers with a high level of achievement.
The criteria include leading roles in distinguished productions, a record of commercial success, or critical recognition from experts.
But the rise of the creator economy has changed how those standards are applied.
According to attorney Fiona McEntee, follower counts, subscriber revenue, and brand deals are now being used as evidence of professional success.
“If you think about how many people are on social media every day and how few people actually make a living from it—it is really a skill,” she said.
Between 2014 and 2024, the number of O-1 visas issued annually rose by over 50%, while overall non-immigrant visa issuance increased by just 10%.
Still, fewer than 20,000 O-1s were granted in 2024, a small fraction compared to more than 400,000 H-1B visas issued for skilled workers.
From Beatle to Influencer
The O-1B category has roots in celebrity. In 1972, Michael Wildes’s father, Leon Wildes, fought to prevent the deportation of John Lennon by petitioning for him as an “outstanding person in the arts.”
That case helped pave the way for what would become the O-1B visa when Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1990.
Now, decades later, the same category is being used by creators whose fame comes from TikTok, Instagram, and subscription-based platforms like OnlyFans.
For attorneys, these cases are often easier to argue than those involving more traditional artists.
“A lay person is very easily impressed by a large number of followers,” said Elektra Yao, founder of the Yao Law Group.
Brand partnerships, viral videos, and online clout are now considered valid evidence. Promoting a brand can count as an endorsement.
Appearing at an event can qualify as a distinguished production. Earnings from content subscriptions demonstrate commercial success.
A New Definition of ‘Talent’
Not everyone is comfortable with the change. Immigration attorney Protima Daryanani said, “We have scenarios where people who should never have been approved are getting approved for O-1s. It’s been watered down because people are just meeting the categories.”
Shervin Abachi, founder of Abachi Law, warned that immigration officials are being pushed to judge applications based on social media popularity rather than creative substance.
“Officers are being handed petitions where value is framed almost entirely through algorithm-based metrics,” he said.
“Once that becomes normalised, the system moves towards treating artistic merit like a scoreboard.”
This shift could result in classically trained performers, who may not prioritize social media or struggle with its algorithms, being overlooked.
“That is a structural shift, not a niche development,” Abachi said. “What looks like a spike in influencer filings may be signalling a broader shift in how opportunity is allocated.”
Likes Over Legacy
As more content creators successfully apply, the idea of what counts as “extraordinary” talent is being redefined.
The ability to generate attention online is increasingly treated as proof of value.
For immigration lawyers and applicants alike, it’s become clear: the algorithm matters as much as the art.
And for now, the U.S. seems willing to hand out artist visas based on engagement numbers, brand deals, and subscriber revenue, even if the definition of art itself is shifting in the process.