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Julia Ain’s O-1B Visa Spotlights Creators Using Viral Clout as Evidence of ‘Extraordinary Ability

Immigration attorneys report more creators qualifying by submitting follower metrics, viral reach, sponsorships, earnings.

Overview

  • Canadian influencer Julia Ain, 25, was approved for a U.S. O-1B artist visa after citing a Katz’s Delicatessen Instagram clip with more than 11 million views as evidence of renown.
  • Her filing also included a Fanfix sponsorship, income documentation, page-view and follower data, and multiple recommendation letters from collaborators.
  • Ain has relocated from Montreal to New York and helped start the Milk Mansion creator collective focused on comedic, sexualized persona-driven content.
  • Lawyer Michael Wildes and others describe a marked rise in influencer and adult-content applicants seeking O-1B status, even as total O-1A/B issuances remained under 20,000 in 2024.
  • The visa generally runs three years with renewals, and Ain argued New York was essential for her work and Jewish cultural ties, positioning her humor as a source of levity online.