Social media influencers recognized as America’s newest ‘extraordinary talent’ for O-1 visas

WASHINGTON — Content creators and social media influencers are increasingly dominating applications for the U.S. O-1 visa, a category reserved for individuals with "extraordinary ability."

The number of O-1 visas granted annually surged 50% between 2014 and 2024, according to data reported by the Financial Times.

The O-1 non-immigrant visa allows individuals with exceptional talent to work temporarily in the United States. The program is divided into the O-1A visa for science, education, and business, and the O-1B visa for the arts or special achievements.

Many digital influencers have successfully secured the status. Julia Ain, a Canadian content creator with 1.3 million followers, received an O-1B visa after proving high income and a substantial fan base across multiple platforms.

French creator Luca Mornet also obtained an O-1B visa following his graduation in New York. The visa allows him to legally monetize his content creation efforts while living in the U.S.

Immigration attorney Michael Wildes said his firm now represents e-sports gamers and digital creators in addition to traditional talent.

Criteria for the O-1B visa, which was originally established for Hollywood stars, are being updated for the digital era. Metrics such as follower counts, monthly revenue, and engagement rates are now used to provide evidence of "commercial success" and "international recognition."

The surge in O-1 visas granted to social media influencers signals a paradigm shift in U.S. immigration policy, marking the formal institutionalization of the "creator economy." Historically, the legal standard of "extraordinary ability" was reserved for the traditional elite—winners of Nobel Prizes, Oscars, or Grammys. However, federal authorities are now recalibrating this definition, recognizing the ability to build a global personal brand and mobilize millions of followers as a high-value professional asset.

This evolution provides a strategic alternative to traditional immigration channels. Unlike the H-1B specialty occupation visa, which is often constrained by rigid degree requirements and corporate sponsorship, the O-1 pathway emphasizes individual commercial impact and brand equity. In this new regulatory environment, digital metrics—follower counts, engagement rates, and monetization levels on platforms like Fanfix or Twitch—now carry evidentiary weight comparable to legacy industry accolades.

The policy shift also highlights an intensifying global competition for talent. Washington is signaling that its interest extends beyond traditional STEM fields to include the vanguard of digital media. By broadening the criteria for O-1 eligibility, the U.S. is making a strategic play to remain the epicenter of the global creative and entertainment industries. Whether the medium is Hollywood or TikTok, the goal is clear: ensure the world’s most influential digital talent operates within the American ecosystem.

For the Vietnamese-American community—long accustomed to the traditional pathways of family reunification, F-1 student visas, or EB-5 investments—the O-1 visa for influencers presents a novel, albeit highly selective, alternative. While our community’s economic footprint has historically been defined by the nail salon industry, the phở restaurants of Little Saigons across the country, and the steady flow of remittances back home, a new generation of digital talent is emerging. A prominent content creator in Vietnam with millions of followers and a proven revenue stream could theoretically leverage the O-1 to work legally in the U.S. However, the threshold for demonstrating commercial success and elite-level influence remains exceptionally high, making it accessible only to a small circle of top-tier digital superstars. While it isn’t yet a practical option for the masses, it serves as a clear signal that Vietnamese creative talent is now capable of competing on a global stage, opening doors beyond the standard F2B or H-1B routes.