Melania Trump’s Visa Sparks Debate

Melania Trump obtained her U.S. visa in the early 2000s. Specifically, she received an EB-1 visa—often called the “Einstein visa”—granted to individuals with extraordinary abilities. Recently, Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett questioned how Melania qualified for this visa, sparking controversy.

What Is the EB-1 Visa?

The EB-1 visa targets those with “extraordinary abilities” in fields like science, arts, education, business, or athletics. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services highlights examples such as Nobel Prize winners, Oscar recipients, and Olympic medalists.

The Controversy: Crockett’s Challenge

At a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Crockett asked why Melania received the EB-1 visa without the usual significant achievements. She argued that Melania, as a model, did not reach the caliber of icons like Tyra Banks or Naomi Campbell, suggesting the visa grant was questionable.

Melania’s Modeling Career and Visa History

Melania had been in the U.S. since 1996 on a tourist visa before securing work visas. In 2000, with help from Paolo Zampolli, a modeling agency co-owner who introduced her to Donald Trump, she applied for the EB-1 visa.

Her attorney confirmed she obtained the EB-1 visa in 2001.

Fact-Check: Could Melania Qualify?

Snopes investigated the claims and found that models can indeed qualify for EB-1 or similar O-1 visas if they prove extraordinary abilities. These visas are not exclusive to scientists or athletes; performers and models have successfully obtained them before.

Examples include comedian John Oliver and former Playboy model Shera Bechard, both receiving O-1 visas.

Not As Unusual As It Seems

While Snopes couldn’t confirm every detail of Melania’s visa, they concluded it’s plausible she qualified under the “extraordinary abilities” category, as many models have done before her.

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