Shera Bechard, the Canadian-born former girlfriend of Playboy Enterprises founder Hugh Hefner, would not be an obvious candidate for the special visas that the U.S. government reserves for 'individuals with extraordinary ability'.

Playboy magazine crowned Bechard Miss November in 2010, and she also started an online photo-sharing craze called 'Frisky Friday'.

Neither seems quite on the level of an 'internationally recognized award, such as a Nobel Prize', which the government cites as a possible qualification.

But Los Angeles immigration lawyer Chris Wright argued that Bechard's accomplishments earned her a slot. The government ultimately agreed.

That kind of success has put Wright on the map as the go-to visa fixer for both Hollywood and Silicon Valley.

This approach, along with seeming flexibility in Washington on what constitutes 'extraordinary ability', means the O-1 is gaining traction in technology circles. Wider use could ultimately land it in political trouble.