I thought the reason for this to be a visa is because their fields' activities were in-person (acting in movies/plays/shows, academic life & research, sports training & leagues, etc). A streamer / OF worker is not like that as far as I know (but e-sports is). So this is purely to bring people with money and/or influence, nothing exceptional except the number of 0's.

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neilv 7 hours ago | parent | next [-]

What I know from news articles is that some of them openly "escort", like some traditional porn stars did more quietly. The fame on the screen can be brand-building for the even more lucrative in-person work.

As one said in a quote, regarding AI threat and crumbling economies: "The oldest profession will be the last profession."

If some of them want to move to the US right now, from currently healthier countries, one reason may be that social inequality means there are many deep-pocketed customers able to pay 5 figures for a weekend experience.

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autoexec 5 hours ago | parent | next [-]

The decline of the US means that there will be increasingly fewer deep-pocketed customers able to pay 5 figures for anything.

Those who come to the US with enough money on the bank will have access to a lifestyle and experiences that are becoming more and more exclusive, which makes for great content for the peasant class to consume on their phones.

	▲	Majora320 5 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		> The decline of the US means that there will be increasingly fewer deep-pocketed customers able to pay 5 figures for anything. Those at the top are doing very well, it's those without access to capital who are struggling. America in decline looks like a bifurcated economy where low-paying jobs catering to the desires of the wealthy take up an increasingly large share of the economy. You can decide for yourself to what extent this is already happening.
	▲	deepsun 4 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		Conversely -- declining countries usually have a lot of deep-pocketed customers, and mind less of whether their crimes go public. They also tend to care less of spending money in wasteful ways, as those money were easily earned.
	▲	torginus 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I wouldn't prophesize the 'decline' of the US, but if you're sufficiently wealthy, the kind of services and lifestyle options (like living in a luxury apartment overlooking the sea, or decent medical care), is available in a lot of places nowadays.

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vondur an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

Healthier countries? As in better physical health?

	▲	nanomonkey 34 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		I believe they are implying that the US itself isn't in a healthy state. Economic disparity mostly, but also politically, socially, and likely physically. I think many would agree.

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usef- 7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It increases the countries' soft power if people around the world watch content from there.

Eg. a self-reinforcing cycle that you get the best from the other immigrant categories arriving because they choose the country where everything "seems to be happening".

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dijit 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> A streamer / OF [may not have to be in person]

From what I understand about OF, it's not just people posting lewds, sometimes there are other actors in the media.

Having access to established actors and uh... "collaborating" with them would require being there in person I would guess.

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michaelt 6 hours ago | parent [-]

As I understand it [1], usually if you try to cross the border declaring you intend to engage in sex work, they turn you away. Some combination of prudishness and concern about trafficking.

For there to be a special sex worker visa is a surprise, to me.

[1] https://www.pace-society.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/3194...

	▲	MadnessASAP 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		It's strange, but is it really surprising? It's not like hypocrisy and moat building are new things in American politics. These days I wouldn't even be surprised to discover it was intentional. Some person or group wanted to ensure they could engage in sex trafficking with a superficially legal cover, but didn't want it to actually be legal.

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whaleofatw2022 7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> A streamer / OF worker is not like that as far as I know (but e-sports is).

Well Streamer vs Influencer can be different potentially, that said I can think of one example even for video game streamers, that being the AGDQ charity event where speedrunners/streamers do stuff live for charity at the event space.

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thaumasiotes 7 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> I thought the reason for this to be a visa is because their fields' activities were in-person (acting in movies/plays/shows, academic life & research, sports training & leagues, etc). A streamer / OF worker is not like that as far as I know

An OnlyFans worker may make the bulk of her money by meeting fans in person for dates. That can't be done over the internet.

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t-3 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

She's not really an "OnlyFans worker" in that case. OnlyFans is merely an advertising venue for an escort or prostitution service.

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dessimus 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

While possible to be for physical sex work, I think the previous commenter meant by meeting fans, would be like at a meet-and-greet at a Con, so they can further increase the parasocial relationship with the people giving them subscriptions, signing autographs. Also, they may be doing collabs with other content creators, just as comedians and actors will be on each others podcasts.

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kevin_thibedeau 3 hours ago | parent [-]

INA §212(a)(2)(D) renders inadmissible any alien who:

(i) is coming to the United States solely, principally, or incidentally to engage in prostitution, or has engaged in prostitution within 10 years of the date of application for a visa, admission, or adjustment of status,

(ii) directly or indirectly procures or attempts to procure, or (within 10 years of the date of application for a visa, admission, or adjustment of status) procured or attempted to procure or to import, prostitutes or persons for the purpose of prostitution, or receives or (within such 10-year period) received, in whole or in part, the proceeds of prostitution, or

(iii) is coming to the United States to engage in any other unlawful commercialized vice, whether or not related to prostitution

Obviously these people should be applying for EB-1s since that is the established visa program for prostitutes.

	▲	dessimus an hour ago \| parent [-]
		If they stream the sex on their OF feed, then it's not prostitution. Even if model is paid by the other person, it would be difficult to legally separate it from any other adult entertainment contract.

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lazide 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Wait until you hear about porn stars!

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eyeris 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Think it’s likely for some OF is the sidegig and for others escorting is the sidegig.

Both would build brand, but I’d imagine making it big on OF streamer has a much higher cap than making it big as an escort.