A Social media influencer is typically a person or group that gains popularity and credibility on one or more of the social media outlets. The Influencer through his or her following is able to project Brand loyalty and sales. Brands have marketed products through various Social Media outlets such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

U.S Immigration law has a carved out Visa that is dedicated to those Foreign Nationals that are looking to live and work in the United states.

Specifically, the O-1 visa allows a Social Influencer to obtain work authorization so that they can come to the United States and work with companies to continue to Promote brands or products.

To qualify for an O-1 visa, the social media influencer must demonstrate extraordinary ability by sustained national or international acclaim via social media, and seek to come to the United States to work with companies using their social media platform.

A Social media influencers will need to show a large following within their field of business, fashion, gaming, travel, lifestyle, etc.

The O-1 visa is not new.  Over the years, we have seen actors, Performers, musicians and various entertainers successfully receive approvals under this category.

 The Social Media influencer has a unique advantage over other groups who have achieved high levels of extraordinary ability in their fields. With Social Media Influencers, many of the metrics that required by the U.S Immigration Department can be isolated through the platforms that they represent themselves on.

Duration of Stay

The period of stay granted for the O-1B visa is up to a period of three years depending on the time necessary to fulfill contractual obligations. Extensions are granted in one-year increments in order to permit the alien to continue to complete the same event or activity for which he or she was admitted.