Influencers and OnlyFans Models Dominate US 'Extraordinary' Artist Visas (ft.com) 55
The O-1B visa, a work permit reserved for individuals deemed to possess "extraordinary ability" in the arts, has become the pathway of choice for social media influencers and OnlyFans models seeking to build careers in the United States. Immigration attorneys told the Financial Times that influencers now make up more than half their clientele for O-1B applications, a shift that has accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic as lawyers and talent managers have adapted the visa's criteria -- originally designed for traditional artists -- to fit the metrics of online fame.
High follower counts and substantial earnings can establish commercial success under the visa's requirements, landing a brand promotion contract can qualify as an endorsement of talent, and appearing at a store opening can count as performing in a "distinguished production." The total number of O-1 visas granted annually increased by more than 50% between 2014 and 2024, even as overall non-immigrant visa issuance grew by just 10%. Fewer than 20,000 O-1 visas were granted in 2024. Some attorneys said they worry the fixation on algorithm-driven metrics could disadvantage traditionally trained artists whose work doesn't generate viral attention.
High follower counts and substantial earnings can establish commercial success under the visa's requirements, landing a brand promotion contract can qualify as an endorsement of talent, and appearing at a store opening can count as performing in a "distinguished production." The total number of O-1 visas granted annually increased by more than 50% between 2014 and 2024, even as overall non-immigrant visa issuance grew by just 10%. Fewer than 20,000 O-1 visas were granted in 2024. Some attorneys said they worry the fixation on algorithm-driven metrics could disadvantage traditionally trained artists whose work doesn't generate viral attention.
It's because they're high class prostitutes (Score:3, Insightful)
There are a whole bunch of only fans models that are really just very very expensive prostitutes for very very rich people.
This is basically sex trafficking like what we saw with the Epstein files only at least it's adult women for a change. I mean if it wasn't adult women then you wouldn't know about it so...
Re:It's because they're high class prostitutes (Score:5, Informative)
There is a significant difference between the O-1B visa and the EB-1 visa Melania came to the US with. O-1B is non-immigrant and temporary and requires a sponsor, EB-1 is permanent/immigrant and is a much higher level of skill to achieve. This is not to say she met that level of importance but the two visa's are not the same.
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Melania has incredible oral skills, methinks.
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How much do we care? (Score:5, Insightful)
Will I pay for sex? Eh, no....my wife wouldn't like it and if I was divorced, I could probably get laid without paying for it & I have realistic standards...but I know many who honestly would struggle to find any woman...and even many fuckable men want to pay...because they want someone more attractive than they can get on their own or think it's simpler to pay a prostitute than look for a hookup on an app.
I fucking hate marijuana and have grown to accept legalization. I despise the stuff and find stoners insufferable...but...accept that people are going to get high and so long as they're not impacting my family, it's none of my business. I view prostitution the same way. It's gross, but if it's not harming anyone, we should focus on regulating to minimize harm and impact. People will get high. People will pay for sex. Grown-ups accept that others have the right to do things we find gross or counter to our values.
Yeah, it's tacky to give priority visas to porn stars and shitty people, but it's really harmless as far as I can tell.
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Even if you do want to make the argument that prostitution and "adult entertainment" are integral parts of our economy, it's not like we have a shortage of citizens willing to "fill openings" (pun intendeed), withou
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True, but to be fair, the scientists, engineers, and scholars are largely fleeing the country, the tech industry is in a massive slump (agriculture is the only sector growing jobs according to the last reliable official figures), and there's a political need to create the impression that the country isn't in a bad way.
Were scientists getting artists visas before??? (Score:2)
The issue is less that prostitutes are getting visas than that folks who actually contribute positively to the economy and society such as scientists, engineers, scholars, legitimate artists, and yes, even the people who grow and prepare our food are being denied them because "ferriners bad." Even if you do want to make the argument that prostitution and "adult entertainment" are integral parts of our economy, it's not like we have a shortage of citizens willing to "fill openings" (pun intendeed), without resorting to sex trafficking.
Since when are scientists, engineers, scholars getting "Extraordinary Artist" visas? You know there are different visa types? That's like complaining about undocumented migrants in Texas preventing people in Michigan from getting affordable housing. They're not related.
Secondly, what the fuck do you mean by "Human Trafficking?" Do you even know what that word means? Because if you did, you'd know that doesn't apply here. So I turn your bullshit back on you...how the fuck do you justify calling thi
Re: Were scientists getting artists visas before?? (Score:2)
The victims are real artists (Score:2)
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real artists get visa's posthumously.
Women are often shocked by their market value (Score:3)
I know at least 2 women that tried being prostitutes and realized quickly they weren't as attractive as they thought. A man who wants to sleep with you is (ideally) kind. A man who is experienced at paying for sex knows what he can
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Is it tacky and salacious? Yeah, but I just don't see the victim here. The prostitutes are well paid and their clients know what they're buying. I don't see anyone as being exploited. IMHO, prostitution is a zoning issue, not a crime.
The problem comes in when it stops being entirely voluntary and starts becoming a requirement or a cudgel that they get beaten with.
This is literally what sex traffickers do. Entice young women in with promises of a big payday, then entrap them. Usually it's by pretty illegal means, literal bondage by holding their passports or violence. They're just legalising the bondage part by tying it to a non-imm visa that can be cancelled at any time. That way they can be forced to work, to give the majority of th
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Even if they aren't, we shouldn't be importing porn actors or calling them "extraordinary artists". They aren't artists, they get screwed on camera. Not art.
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I'll wager you can't (look good doing it) (Score:4, Insightful)
Anyone can do it, and almost everyone does.
I'll wager you can't. Can I fuck a woman?...yeah. Can I look good doing it?...eh...hate to admit...that's a no. For starters, my middle-aged dad bod probably isn't appealing to most, but some people are into that....so then the real issue is.... What feels good for me?...makes for shitty viewing. Cumming in a partner and putting a good performance are different skill sets. I'll wager it's the same for you. Normal couples hold each other close and it's hard to see the action without some cleverly placed cameras. Porn star have sex in ways that allow you to view them better. They need to emote their feelings very clearly. Good porn performers are performing. They are acting. They are conveying emotions and feelings and desire in a way that's very noticeable in camera, but not natural or organic.
It's like acting. There is a degree of skill involved in conveying a performance on screen. It's not nuclear physics level hard...but there are skills that separate good actors. Anyone can stand in front of a camera and read a line from a script. Top actors convey emotion with body language that enhances dialog.
There's a lot more to porn than taking. your clothes off.
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They aren't artists, porn isn't art, and even if any of them are "extraordinarily" good at it, I don't see how that justifies an artist's visa. Rsilvergun and I have found a rare point of agreement - this is human trafficking with an excuse.
Define Human Trafficking (Score:2)
They aren't artists, porn isn't art, and even if any of them are "extraordinarily" good at it, I don't see how that justifies an artist's visa. Rsilvergun and I have found a rare point of agreement - this is human trafficking with an excuse.
You know how many times I've heard "that's not art" about rap or punk music?...and that's in my lifetime. I'm sure old assholes said the same about Elvis or the Beatles. However, what the fuck is human trafficking? I know anti-sex individuals like to throw that word around and it sounds scary....but it's fucking meaningless and doesn't apply here. No one is forcing these women to do anything. They're signing up for a service to make money. Is it gross for you?...clearly...but it's a service, just like
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Here I say that I'm worried women are being forced into being sex slaves, and you're inventing neuroses for me. I didn't say anything about porn being good or bad, I didn't say anything about sex being good or bad (I remember it being good, but I'm married), but I did say that porn actors are not "extraordinary talents". And I will continue to say it, no matter what other beliefs you'd like to invent for
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did you want to defend human trafficking
Could you beg the question any harder?
As they said, "provide evidence or shut the fuck up."
You're not a stupid person. I know that accusing someone of supporting sex trafficking feels like you won the argument, but that's just because you're head is too far in it to see how fucking stupid it looks.
Before you respond- I just want to make sure you understand that any questioning of my position on this counts for me as a tacit approval of child marriage.
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Now, if you think he specifically meant OnlyFans "models", and
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There are some women (and girls) who are smuggled into the country and have their documents/passports seized, living as sex slaves. They don't get visas. Much of that trafficking has been shut down.
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Oh, and here's a kicker that hadn't crossed my mind until just now - why do they need a work visa? Their job can be performed from anywhere. They don't need to come to the US in order to perform in front of a camera, they already did that. The only part of a porn star's job that they can't do where they were is the one people don't often a
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Because they aren't actual slaves, and can make actual money for themselves, and then leave the country much wealthier than they were when they entered (if they choose to leave).
Because they're actually following laws and can be found easily in case their visa expires. Expired visa holders are the easiest deportations ever.
Because they're less likely to be drugged out, beaten/abused, and otherwise living in horrific conditions.
Because their economic activity is less likely to financially-benefit violent ga
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This is the same type of Visa that Trump used to bring his current wife into the country with.
All reliable sources say that they didn't meet until after she came to the USA, so it's not correct to say Donald Trump got her the visa. The USA has been doing bs like this with those types of visas for many decades now. I'm not going to name the guy or his wife as they no longer live in the USA, but one famous NHL player met his wife in the USA when she was somehow given one of these visas. I would give almost anything to see what the hell her application said to justify getting it, but as best I ca
Idiocracy (Score:3)
I feel like they left this one out of Idiocracy, but it would have fit the theme perfectly.
Re: Idiocracy (Score:3)
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...extra foam...
Re:Idiocracy (Score:4, Informative)
We passed Idiocracy some time back. We're now in a region where satirists and humourists are simply no longer able to function without sounding saner.
In other words... (Score:3, Insightful)
... a country which has devolved into being one big grift is welcoming an influx of grifters from other countries.
Like attracts like; besides, everyone with no moral centre wants to be inside, rather than outside, the country which is poised to launch World War 3.
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At least they're mostly hot chicks.
It's based on earning potential, not quality (Score:5, Insightful)
I was watching a Twitch stream where Pokimane was addressing her recent visa renewal and some issues travelling back to the US, and she nailed it perfectly. The O1 visa is based upon how much money the US thinks you can make, and they can therefore tax. It's not about artistry or anything like that in the majority of cases, they just want to see you will make money they can collect taxes on. Like most things in the government (especially in this government) it has become entirely transactional.
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I mean what's the issue with that exactly? It'd be one thing if it were something illegal but if you have a career, any career, where someone is making hundreds of thousands or millions why wouldn't we want them in the US if they want to move here? Anything else feels like a moral judgement and that's also not a good way to handle this type of thing.
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Yup. That was the next sentence, and there was context in the rest of the quote. A little research found a pretty good page about the whole thing at Roger Clarke's web site. I'm going back to finish it now. Here it is:
Most people attribute it to Stewart Brand.
Stewart confirmed this on Tue, 29 Jun 1999 07:00:58 -0700 in an email to TBTF (thanks Eric Scheid, Keith Dawson and Kragen Sitaker). Stewart wrote:
"In fall 1984, at the first Hackers' Conference, I said in one discussion
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Meh. Changed quote in the middle of writing that because this one has better provenance, so "That was the next sentence" doesn't make sense. It's been a long day, folks. I'm gonna go have some food.
Interesting (Score:2, Troll)
A generation/nation of non-producers? (Score:3)
Porn and scams (Score:2)
Visas to meet RealFans(tm) (Score:2)
I don't understand why someone who "performs" on the internet would need to travel unless it was to "perform" in person with someone under the influence or a RealFan(tm).
Clearly (Score:2)
Clearly, Trump-Kennedy Center should feature more OnlyFans performances.