Influencers and OnlyFans models dominate US ‘extraordinary’ artist visas

[neurosis]

It doesn't get much more American than this. 

https://archive.ph/wM35Y


"The number of influencers who have successfully applied for an O-1B visa, reserved for "exceptional" creatives, has exploded since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to immigration lawyers like Wildes, talent managers and creators.
Some immigration attorneys said influencers now made up more than half their clientele. They are happy to take on these clients, not only from a financial perspective, but because "likes" and subscriber figures are easy metrics to quantify compared with the often murky process of proving "exceptional ability".
"A lay person is very easily impressed by a large number of followers," said immigration lawyer Elektra Yao, founding partner of the Yao Law Group. "You don't need to be a rocket scientist," she said."

[megatronprime]

It doesn't get much more American than this. 

https://archive.ph/wM35Y


"The number of influencers who have successfully applied for an O-1B visa, reserved for "exceptional" creatives, has exploded since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to immigration lawyers like Wildes, talent managers and creators.
Some immigration attorneys said influencers now made up more than half their clientele. They are happy to take on these clients, not only from a financial perspective, but because "likes" and subscriber figures are easy metrics to quantify compared with the often murky process of proving "exceptional ability".
"A lay person is very easily impressed by a large number of followers," said immigration lawyer Elektra Yao, founding partner of the Yao Law Group. "You don't need to be a rocket scientist," she said."

A lot of this influencers aren't actually famous, there are websites that sell followers, likes comments etc, anyone can be an influencer, just buy 200,000 followers and some engagement on a few posts, it's easy, perfectly legal btw..

[Jeff]

there are websites that sell followers, likes comments etc,

And views.

"companies" have thousands of phones sitting on racks all tied to each other and controlled by a single computer.
While it may be legal, it doesn't abide by the terms and conditions/user agreements of these streaming sites like Twitch, or even YouTube. I believe the channel can be suspended or even banned.

[megatronprime]

And views.

"companies" have thousands of phones sitting on racks all tied to each other and controlled by a single computer.
While it may be legal, it doesn't abide by the terms and conditions/user agreements of these streaming sites like Twitch, or even YouTube. I believe the channel can be suspended or even banned.

Yeah, same with buying followers, defintly against the tos