Fact check: What type of visa did Melania Trump use to work as a model in the US?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Melania Trump's visa history for modeling work in the US involves multiple visa types and potential violations:

• Initial Entry: Melania Trump first entered the United States on a B1/B2 visitor visa in 1996, which allowed her to be in the country and look for work but explicitly prohibited paid employment ^[1].
• Illegal Work Period: She was paid for 10 modeling jobs before obtaining legal work authorization, which constituted a violation of her visitor visa terms ^[1].
• H-1B Work Visa: According to her lawyer, she obtained an H-1B work visa on October 18, 1996, though the exact documentation and details of this visa have been questioned ^[2].
• EB-1 "Einstein" Visa: In 2001, she obtained an EB-1 visa, also known as the "Einstein Visa," which is reserved for immigrants with "extraordinary ability" and "sustained national and international acclaim" ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial contextual elements:

• Legal Violations: The question doesn't address that Melania Trump worked illegally before obtaining proper work authorization, performing paid modeling work while on a tourist visa that prohibited such employment ^[1].
• Documentation Questions: There are unresolved questions about the timing and legitimacy of her H-1B visa, with unclear documentation supporting her lawyer's claims about the October 1996 date ^[2].
• EB-1 Visa Controversy: The analyses reveal significant questions about whether Melania Trump met the "extraordinary ability" requirements for the EB-1 visa, given her background as a model rather than someone with typical "sustained national and international acclaim" ^[3].
• Immigration System Context: The broader discussion around H-1B visa reforms and potential changes to the immigration system provides relevant context about the visa categories she used ^[4].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question, while factually neutral, omits the controversial aspects of Melania Trump's immigration history:

• Framing Issue: By asking simply about "what type of visa" she used, the question implies a straightforward, legal process when the evidence shows multiple visa violations and questionable qualifications for certain visa categories ^{[1] [3]}.
• Timeline Complexity: The question suggests a single visa type when the reality involves multiple visas over time, including illegal work, disputed H-1B documentation, and a controversial EB-1 approval ^{[2] [3]}.
• Missing Legal Context: The question fails to acknowledge that her initial modeling work was performed without proper work authorization, which is a significant legal issue that affects the complete answer ^[1].