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Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

theguardian.com

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Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#121

Post by dragonwriter »

etblg wrote: post #119
areoform wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Disclaimer: I don't mean this comment as an insult to you or anyone else here. It's meant to be slightly tongue in cheek. I hate to be that person, but the fact that so many people on HN think OF is prostitution is revealing of the site's demographics (i.e. older). It is, as some may put it, boomer thinking. You're misunderstanding what these people - esports athletes, successful streamers, influencers, OF models etc…

> I hate to be that person, but the fact that so many people on HN think OF is prostitution is revealing of the site's demographics (i.e. older). It is, as some may put it, boomer thinking. Well it's not non-existent either, there are a fair number of onlyfans models (and also general actors in the field of pornography who do the same) who do escorting on the side.

“There are a fair number of people in X field who do Y on the side” is a completely and radically different things than “X is a subset of Y.”

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#122

Post by [deleted] »

labcomputer wrote: post #114
inanutshellus wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other replies to this show a form of argumentation that's always fascinated me. You say "We should encourage X over Y" and the retorts are * "Y will still exist" * "Y can still be encouraged separately" * "You should tell me the difference between X and Y" * "Hey, I found an X that sometimes acts vaguely similar to Y!" None directly disagree with the original point, but they do imply fault in the original reasoni…

It is disappointing that it is so easy to bamboozle HNers with a straw man argument. The original poster was clearly not making an analogy between professional soccer and only fans creators. To be explicit, the comparisons were: Cinematic actors -> TikTok creators Victoria’s Secret model -> only fans creator Pro soccer -> esports I fail to see how the culture of our country will be negatively impacted by any of those…

[deleted]

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#123

Post by terminalshort »

ericmcer wrote: post #55
areoform wrote: post #9

Such articles are interesting because they're tacit disapproval, but I would argue that this use of the O-1 is the most American way to use it. There's a reason why Hollywood became the Earth's center of cultural gravity post-WW2, https://goldenglobes.com/articles/exiles-and-emigres-hollywo... You may argue that these people aren't of such import, but I would beg to differ. This is the future of culture. These people…

Influencers as the future of culture is not great. Hollywood had a ton of issues but it at least had some... class? If you watch an interview with Mr. Beast or other famous influencers they are concerningly ignorant, have little self-awareness and a child-like approach to reality. It makes total sense given these are teenagers who were lauded with fame for entertaining other teenagers on social media. I watched the M…

And how is this is different from movie stars?

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#124

Post by ThinkingGuy »

actionfromafar wrote: post #105
superfrank wrote: post #10

It's funny, early on it says > The O-1 category includes the O-1A, which is designated for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics and the O-1B, reserved for those with “extraordinary ability or achievement”. Then later it says > The O-1B visa, once reserved for Hollywood titans and superstar musicians, has evolved over the years. I understand those two aren't necessar…

Which one did Melania qualify for? Type O 1A or O 1B?

E-1, according to Snopes, citing the Washington Post:

https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/07/02/melania-trump-einstei...

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#125

Post by mattfrommars »

superfrank wrote: post #10

It's funny, early on it says > The O-1 category includes the O-1A, which is designated for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics and the O-1B, reserved for those with “extraordinary ability or achievement”. Then later it says > The O-1B visa, once reserved for Hollywood titans and superstar musicians, has evolved over the years. I understand those two aren't necessar…

I’ve been thinking lately a lot of female pornographic actresses on sites such as Brazzers don’t have US origins.

Does anyone know on which work visa do models come in then? It can’t be H1B…

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#127

Post by aiauthoritydev »

superfrank wrote: post #10

It's funny, early on it says > The O-1 category includes the O-1A, which is designated for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics and the O-1B, reserved for those with “extraordinary ability or achievement”. Then later it says > The O-1B visa, once reserved for Hollywood titans and superstar musicians, has evolved over the years. I understand those two aren't necessar…

I am not a lawyer. But OF models using O1 visa is totally fine. It is the intended purpose. The visa itself is meant for researchers, scholars who have job offers, athletes, actors etc. it has no cap and clear criteria. OF models who make a lot of money should totally qualify for this.

Also this visa in uncapped so giving visas to OF models does not take away anything from scientists and others.

O visa's original intent was to help pretty ladies from Eastern Europe to be brought into the country as indentured workers. That is why it is so easy to get this visa for an actor or a fashion model but very tough to get someone for their research.

So all this is working as intended.

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#128

Post by volkk »

labcomputer wrote: post #114
inanutshellus wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other replies to this show a form of argumentation that's always fascinated me. You say "We should encourage X over Y" and the retorts are * "Y will still exist" * "Y can still be encouraged separately" * "You should tell me the difference between X and Y" * "Hey, I found an X that sometimes acts vaguely similar to Y!" None directly disagree with the original point, but they do imply fault in the original reasoni…

It is disappointing that it is so easy to bamboozle HNers with a straw man argument. The original poster was clearly not making an analogy between professional soccer and only fans creators. To be explicit, the comparisons were: Cinematic actors -> TikTok creators Victoria’s Secret model -> only fans creator Pro soccer -> esports I fail to see how the culture of our country will be negatively impacted by any of those…

I don't believe the rigidity of the comparisons matter within the broad context of my point. Regardless of whether OP didn't directly compare pro soccer to OF, the point is that allowing the degradation of expectations of Visas will only incentivize low effort crap. And yes, one can sit here and argue all day that OF fans, or TikTok creators are the same thing as Victorias secret models or Cinematic actors (and I would argue that's far from true) but I think most of us can all feel societal erosion happening and the decline of average IQs and the fact that a huge generation of growing young adults can barely read. Let's not pretend this has nothing to do with multiple epidemics like porn addiction, gambling, and general disregard of trying to better yourself because 90% of people are using 80% of their days staring at said TikTok creators

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#129

Post by hnlmorg »

NewJazz wrote: post #86
hnlmorg wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If what you’re just concerned about people “baring themselves on camera” then they can continue to do that without emigrating to America and it would still affect your culture. The internet is global after all. Also, it’s going to take more than a few thousand immigrants a year to affect the culture of a country as populous as America.

The internet is global, but having folks in our midst who make a living that way has more of an effect on our culture than if they are just on the internet.

Why?

I actually worked in the adult industry earlier in my career so have a better insight than most. and I can tell you that these models are just normal people like you an I. They aren’t interested in corrupting your children nor throwing wild sex parties in public spaces.

Re: Influencers and OnlyFans models are dominating U.S. O-1 visa requests

#130

Post by aiauthoritydev »

barbazoo wrote: post #48
shagie wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's the difference in difficulty for the criteria. https://www.pathlawgroup.com/o1b-visa-requirements/ For all other candidates, at least three of the following criteria must be met in order to qualify for the O1B visa: Having been or will be performing a lead or starring role in productions or events which have a distinguished national or international reputation (as evidenced by critical reviews, advertisements, p…

For a Youtube influencer I can see them meet 3 of the criteria by showing their influence on others, money earned, Youtube awards for viewership (by Google!). Maybe some platforms lend themselves more to being used for this sort of evidence than others. - Evidence of a record of major commercial or critically acclaimed successes in the performing arts, as shown by box office receipts or record, cassette, compact disk…

- Youtube awards do not count towards the awards criteria. The award has to be for being highly selective not linked to mere subscribers.
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