Increase in O-1 Visas Issued to Influencers and Strippers

There’s been a noticeable rise in the number of O-1 “genius” visas granted to foreign OnlyFans strippers and social media stars. This visa is typically viewed as a renewable option for those recognized for their exceptional abilities in areas like tech or innovative ideas.

However, the process for securing an O-1 visa can be challenging and sometimes leads to issues like fraud and deception among applicants using questionable methods to meet qualifications. This has caused U.S. authorities to be particularly vigilant when assessing visa applications sent to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Interestingly, online influencers seem to have a distinct edge. Fiona McEntee, co-founder of McEntee Law Group, highlighted that having a large follower count and substantial income can demonstrate commercial success. Engagements with brands or prominent appearances can be classified as notable accomplishments.

She pointed out, “Considering how many people are on social media daily and how few actually earn a living from it, that’s a genuine skill.” It’s worth noting that this trend is also impacting Indian applicants, who are trying to navigate both old and new immigration restrictions affecting green card availability and H-1B visa caps.

Shervin Abachi, a lawyer in New York, mentioned the concern of petitions often being evaluated based mainly on algorithm-driven metrics, noting, “When that becomes commonplace, artistic achievements are treated like a scoreboard.” Protima Daryanani, another immigration attorney, expressed that there are indeed instances where applicants should not have qualified for O-1 visas yet were approved, citing examples of artists whose metrics aren’t easily defined.