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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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A growing share of O‑1B visas are now being granted to social media influencers and OnlyFans models, according to an immigration attorney.
"Influencers are the new niche field where the O-1 historically has recognized the world's talent in the arts, business, entertainment, and athletics," immigration attorney Michael Wildes told Newsweek. "The new endeavors and the new frontiers are influencers and OnlyFans provocateurs. We saw this being bridged in recent years by game streamers and lifestyle content creators who are expanding all the different fields."
A spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services told Newsweek: "USCIS is not prioritizing applications for the site in question. Reports suggesting otherwise are absurd."
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Why It Matters
The O-1B visa is a temporary US work visa created under the Immigration Act of 1990 for individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts. Traditionally used by performers, musicians, visual artists, and other established creatives, it allows holders to work in the United States for a specific project or engagement, with the possibility of extensions. Applicants must be sponsored by a U.S. employer or agent, and petitions are reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis.
What To Know
The trend was first reported by the Financial Times, which spoke with several immigration attorneys who said applications from social media influencers and online content creators have increased in recent years.
Government data cited in the Financial Times report shows that overall O-1 visa issuances have increased by more than 50 percent between 2014 and 2024, though they still represent a small fraction of total non-immigrant visas issued by the United States each year.
Lawyers representing online creators say these standards are increasingly being met using metrics such as follower counts, subscriber numbers, audience reach, and revenue from brand partnerships or subscriptions.
However, Mike Stabile, director of public policy for the Free Speech Coalition, told Newsweek, "We're not aware of any adult content creators receiving O-1B visas, as even basic travel visas are difficult to get for those working in our industry. While the work is legal, there is and has been tremendous discrimination against adult workers. But OnlyFans isn't limited to sex workers and the Financial Times reporting seems sensational and potentially misleading. Just because someone with a following on OnlyFans is seeking an O-1B doesn't mean they're an adult worker and doesn't mean they've been granted any." To qualify for an O-1B visa, applicants must demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim and meet at least three regulatory criteria, such as earning a high salary, receiving critical recognition, or playing a leading role in distinguished productions or organizations."
But Wildes, managing partner of Wildes and Weinberg P.C., told Newsweek that influencers represent a new frontier for the visa category.
"It's so important that clients we represent keep a good track of their social media analytics in this respect and that they provide us with information on their subscription, how many subscribers, how long they've had that amount of subscribers, and how much they get in tips," Wildes said.
Income documentation is also critical, Wildes said. "If they get big payouts from Twitch or OnlyFans every month, it's great for us to show high remuneration."
OnlyFans is an online subscription platform that's best known for adult content. Founded in 2016, it gained widespread attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many turned to digital platforms for income. Creators set subscription fees, and users pay to access their content, with additional earnings possible through tips and pay-per-view messages
What People Are Saying
**Immigration attorney Michael Wildes told Newsweek: "**By tracking their social media analytics and being ready to provide those to a talented attorney, they ought to be able to show that their shoulders are part of their talent."
Fiona McEntee, founding partner of the McEntee Law Group, told The Financial Times: "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."
Immigration lawyer Protima Daryanani, managing partner of the Daryanani Law Group, told The Financial Times: "We have scenarios where people who should never have been approved are getting approved for O-1s."
Update 1/6/26, 12:24 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Mike Stabile.
Update 1/12/26, 3:30 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from USCIS.
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