The U.S. visa once designed to bring world-class artists into the country is increasingly used by a very different kind of performer.
According to new reporting, social media influencers—and particularly OnlyFans creators—now make up a significant share of applicants for the O-1B visa, a highly selective permit reserved for individuals with “extraordinary ability” in the arts or exceptional achievement in film and television.
Immigration attorneys told the Florida Phoenix that more than half of their recent O-1B clients are online creators rather than traditional actors, musicians, or visual artists. Miami-based lawyer Joe Bovino estimated that roughly 65 percent of his current O-1B cases involve influencers who earn income through platforms such as OnlyFans, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
“It’s not just cat videos anymore,” Bovino said. “It’s social media influencers making lots of money.”
The O-1B visa has a storied history. According to U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, it first emerged in the early 1970s after John Lennon of The Beatles faced deportation, prompting lawmakers to recognize that U.S. immigration policy lacked a pathway for elite creative talent. By 1990, the visa was formally codified to accommodate artists with sustained national or international acclaim.
To qualify, applicants must demonstrate exceptional achievement through major awards or meet multiple criteria such as leading roles in distinguished productions, extensive media recognition, commercial success, or commanding high compensation. While those benchmarks were initially intended for established performers, attorneys say influencers now use follower counts, brand partnerships, and platform revenue as proof of industry distinction.
Some of the most visible OnlyFans creators working in the U.S. today are immigrants. Mexican-born model and actress Yanet Garcia, who lives in New York City, celebrated receiving her U.S. residency in December. However, the specific visa she used has not been publicly confirmed.
Canadian influencer Aishah Sofey and China-born creator Joyy Mei are also part of the Florida-based “Bop House,” a shared living arrangement for prominent adult content creators.
New York immigration attorney Michael Wildes, whose father represented Lennon decades ago, acknowledged how much the applicant pool has shifted. “I knew the days of representing iconic names like Boy George and Sinéad O’Connor were over,” he said, adding that “scroll kings and queens” have dominated applications since 2020.
Government data shows that more than 125,000 O-1 visas have been issued since 2017, with approvals climbing sharply over the past decade. While exact figures for influencers are unavailable, attorneys say the trend reflects how modern definitions of artistic success increasingly rely on digital reach and monetization.
Still, some legal experts are concerned about the long-term consequences. “Officers are being handed petitions where value is framed almost entirely through algorithm-based metrics,” attorney Shervin Abachi said. “Once that becomes normalized, the system moves toward treating artistic merit like a scoreboard.”