How Did Melania Trump Get Extraordinary Ability Visa?

Melania Trump, originally from Slovenia, obtained U.S. permanent residency in 2001 through the EB-1 visa, commonly referred to as the ""Einstein visa."" This visa category is designated for individuals who demonstrate ""extraordinary ability"" in fields such as the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, and who have achieved national or international acclaim.

How Did She Qualify?

To be eligible for the EB-1 visa, applicants must either have a one-time major achievement (like a Pulitzer Prize or Olympic medal) or meet at least three of ten specified criteria, which include:

Evidence of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence.

• Published material about the applicant in professional or major trade publications or other major media.

• Evidence of the applicant's performance in a leading or critical role for organizations or establishments that have a distinguished reputation.

• Evidence of the applicant's authorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or other major media.

• Evidence that the applicant has commanded a high salary or other significantly high remuneration for services.

• Evidence of commercial successes in the performing arts.

Melania Trump's modeling career included features in notable publications such as the British edition of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She also had a prominent billboard advertisement for Camel cigarettes in Times Square. These accomplishments likely contributed to her meeting the necessary criteria for the EB-1 visa.

Controversy and Scrutiny

Despite her achievements, some critics questioned whether her modeling career reached the ""extraordinary ability"" threshold typically associated with the EB-1 visa. However, immigration experts have noted that the EB-1 category, while stringent, does not exclusively cater to Nobel laureates or Olympic athletes. Individuals with significant accomplishments in their respective fields, including modeling, can qualify if they meet the required criteria.

In summary, Melania Trump's successful EB-1 visa application was based on her modeling career and the evidence she provided to demonstrate her extraordinary ability in that field.