The Visa That Brought John Lennon to America Is Now Powering OnlyFans Careers

A U.S. work visa once closely associated with elite actors and musicians is increasingly being sought by social media influencers, with immigration attorneys reporting a sharp rise in applications from OnlyFans creators.

What was once a gateway for concert halls and movie sets is now increasingly tied to subscriber counts, engagement data, and the economics of online fame.

According to interviews conducted by various news outlets, online creators now represent a significant share of applicants for the O-1B visa, a selective permit reserved for individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts or exceptional achievement in film and television.

Immigration lawyers say the category, historically dominated by stage and screen performers, has shifted markedly in the past five years.

Government data shows O-1 visa issuances have climbed steadily for more than a decade, increasing nearly 50 percent since 2014, even as the visa remains uncapped and reserved for individuals deemed to possess extraordinary ability.

Miami-based attorney Joe Bovino estimated that roughly 65 percent of his current O-1B caseload involves 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-1 visa category has deep roots in U.S. cultural history. Its origins date back to the early 1970s, when John Lennon faced the possibility of deportation.

The case exposed gaps in immigration law for internationally acclaimed artists, prompting lawmakers to rethink how to retain creative talent. By 1990, the O-1B visa was formally codified under the Immigration Act of 1990 to accommodate artists with sustained national or international acclaim, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Applicants are required to meet multiple criteria, including leading roles in distinguished productions, significant media recognition, evidence of commercial success, or high compensation relative to others in their field.

While these standards were written with traditional arts careers in mind, attorneys say they are now being met through digital metrics such as follower counts, subscription revenue, and brand partnerships.

New York immigration attorney Michael Wildes, whose father represented Lennon decades ago, acknowledged the dramatic change in clientele. He said applications from iconic performers have steadily been replaced by what he described as “scroll kings and queens,” a trend that accelerated after 2020.

Government figures show that more than 125,000 O-1 visas have been issued since 2017, with approvals climbing sharply over the past decade. While federal agencies do not break down approvals by profession, attorneys across multiple states report that influencers now account for a substantial share of filings.

Some of the most visible OnlyFans creators working in the United States today are immigrants. Mexican-born model and actress Yanet Garcia, now based in New York City, publicly celebrated receiving U.S. residency in December, though the specific visa used has not been confirmed.

Canadian influencer Aishah Sofey and China-born creator Joyy Mei have also drawn attention as members of Florida’s so-called Bop House, where prominent adult content creators live and work together.

Aishah Sofey, in particular, has more than 12 million followers across multiple social media platforms. The 23-year-old was born and raised in Canada, and only moved to the US to be a part of the Florida-based Bop House.

Photo Credit: X @aishahsofey

But is being famous online enough? Apparently so.

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 my sources say that isn't true. Both LA Direct Models and Spiegler have used O-1B visas to bring porn stars into the country for work, including, at one point, Valentina Nappi, prior to the COVID-19 lockdown.

The shift in how O-1B visas are distributed has raised concerns among some legal experts, who warn that the visa’s original intent could be diluted. Critics argue that petitions increasingly rely on algorithm-driven indicators rather than traditional measures of artistic merit.

“Officers are being handed petitions where value is framed almost entirely through algorithm-based metrics,” said immigration attorney Shervin Abachi. He added that once those measures become normalized, artistic evaluation risks being reduced to a scoreboard.

Others counter that earning a sustainable living online represents a legitimate and rare skill. Fiona McEntee of the McEntee Law Group told the Financial Times that while millions use social media daily, only a small fraction manage to convert attention into consistent income.