What are the rules on getting an IM title (vs. NM) and is online chess allowed?

I have a 2 part question here. First is pretty simple, if you want an IM title instead of NM do you have to play people from different countries? If yes, then can you still achieve this by playing international players in your home country or do you have to travel internationally? What are the rules?

Next question (yea those multiple questions above were just on one thing ), I noticed there are games recorded through the Pro Chess League. Those are played online, correct? If so, can people get a title simply by playing chess online? If the answer to that is yes, then you can become an IM through rapid play or does it have to be classical?

I don't see classical events on here, so my thinking was you don't get rating points. To further confuse things, if you get rapid rating points and not classical rating points can you be a rapid IM? I'll stop here for now, but please check back. Depending on the answers I might have further questions.

No, you can't get titles of any value online.

You usually have to travel because tournaments with enough strong players don't happen every day.

To get NM in the US, you need to get your over the board rating to 2200 in over the board rated slow chess.

Read the full rules for titles on the FIDE site.

"No, you can get titles of any value online."

No? What are you saying no to specifically? Which question?

The second part seems to contradict this statement, "To get NM in the US, you need to get your over the board rating to 2200"

How can you get a title of any value online but have to be 2200 over the board? That part is confusing. What if you have a 2200+ rating online, obviously it will probably be inflated, but beat 2400+ players who have a title already?

"Read the full rules for titles on the FIDE site."

I see OTB rules, but where are the online playing rules?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIDE_titles#Arena_titles

Sorry, I made a typo. You can't get titles of any value online.

Ok, thanks for the information so far. I am still wondering if someone knows about the first question, Can you play people from other countries in your home country and get a FIDE title of GM or IM or do you have to travel internationally?

I see now something called an Arena title is attainable online. What is it worth though? None of the conditions include playing classical, so what can you do with an Arena title? I thought arena tournaments were just people starting a tournament, waiting 1 hour for people to join, and then playing. Kind of like kids playing music in a garage band.

Are there Arena tournaments we can tune in to see people get an AGM title?

When they talk about performance rating of 2000 or higher, does that translate to like 2200 on chess.com or more? In other words, at what point can someone feel comfortable enough to compete on the FIDE server for this Arena title? 250 games are a lot, LOL, do you play them all at once or are they cumulative over years?

The FIDE Arena title is worth little.  All you need is the money to pay for it. You have to pay to play there.

Read about norms for international titles:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_(chess)

Ok, let's zero in on the first question. No one knows? 

I am still wondering if someone knows about the first question, Can you play people from other countries in your home country and get a FIDE title of GM or IM or do you have to travel internationally?

If you read the answers, you would know.

Yes, you can play in the US but it's harder to find tournaments here with enough titled players from other countries. ( See "norms. )

There are a number of events in the US that are designed for the chance of players to get norms. They are not extremely common, but do exist in bigger cities where there are more foreign titled players already living or going to university.

In some countries, or some areas of countries, it may be harder to do something like that, so some travel will likely be required.

Online ratings / titles are worth nothing... (basically because it invites cheating.)  So you need to play in OTB tournaments to get a real title.

Just another somehow related question : on this site I am 1200 and on another site I am 1800 - what am I? I have the areas of improvement at the back of my mind.

Different pools, different ratings. Some sites start ratings at a higher value, so they tend to be higher overall. 

I just learned about the FIDE Arena chess titles recently and read through the official FIDE rules for each category and their rationale (though, this was vague but they do not have to explain "why" they choose to offer the public what the public can then *choose* to try and achieve or not).  First, Yes, you certainly get to play people from many different countries.  This question took some time here to be discussed since it immediately turned to what was nor originally asked and that is what everyone's opinion is about a FIDE Arena title.

  Like so much in life, in this case I truly think one should do and pursue a chess title if it is something that provides them with personal fulfillment and contentment.  What other's "think" is not what matters for you when it comes to who you play chess with; why you play chess at all; and who cares what naysayers "think" about a chess title because if by choosing to obtain a FIDE Arena title enriches your life in any manner then it is worth it for you.  I do not care what someone here thinks of an Arena title.  If I wanted to get one, then I would.  It is simply a matter of personal choice.  It is all a matter of perception. Some will forever claim that Correspondence Chess and, say, the ICCF are just "cheaters" whereas we know cheating also occurs in just about every form of human relationship and in OTB chess as well. Who cares what people think if by playing chess to earn a FIDE Arena title or the ICCF where computers are allowed, if it keeps your interest in chess alive and brings you joy, they don't have to agree with it but should be happy that it brings you a new chess experience. 

   We live in a rating obsessed chess culture and when one loses sight of the inherent beauty of the game then you should ask yourself "Why am I really playing chess?" To brag about a rating or to enjoy the game for the sake of the game?  

  I have nothing to prove to anyone here and so for the sake of adding to the posts then I'll just say I will earn a FIDE Arena Title....and whether it is of now value to you means absolutely nothing to me.  

  I will always love to play chess.  Where and why is not of any concern of folks posting here. Just my opinion.  Everyone has a right to their opinion.