Darshan Magdum, a member of the viral boy band Boy Throb, announced on Monday, August 3rd, 2026, that his U.S. visa has been approved. "I got the visa!" Magdum exclaimed during a FaceTime call with his bandmates.

Originally from India, Magdum's immigration struggles have been central to Boy Throb's rise in popularity. Since October 2025, the band, dressed in pink velvet tracksuits, shared adaptations of popular songs to prove their legitimacy as a real band and support Magdum's visa application.

Earlier this year, Boy Throb released a parody of the Christmas classic "Here Comes Santa Claus," highlighting the challenging process of applying for the O-1 visa, a U.S. nonimmigrant visa for individuals with "extraordinary abilities." In fiscal year 2024, over 20,000 O-1 visa applications were filed with more than 1,000 rejections, and application costs ranged from $8,000 to over $10,000.

The band also created songs to rally support, including a parody to the tune of Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild" singing, "Oh I'd like Darshan to be in the USA, oh I need him here by New Year's Day," and to Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia," "It's about to be the greatest night you've been dreaming of, the fate of Darshan's visa."

Magdum often appeared at Boy Throb concerts via Zoom, increasing public demand for his visa approval so the band could perform together in person.

Magdum first applied for the visa in December 2025 but was initially denied because the U.S. government and some online critics questioned the band's legitimacy. Pennsylvania-based immigration lawyer Jonathan Grode, who submitted additional paperwork for Magdum, told The Guardian, "This case really caught my attention because they knew that they had people with talent, they knew they had people with an idea, but they let the fame come before the recognition of the ability."

With the visa now approved, Boy Throb looks forward to performing together in the United States.

Sources