Fact check: Did Melania Trump have a valid work visa during her modeling career in America?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided suggest that Melania Trump may not have had a valid work visa during her early modeling career in America ^[1]. According to the sources, she was paid for modeling jobs before obtaining a work visa, with one source providing detailed accounting ledgers and contracts showing she was paid for 10 modeling jobs in the US before she had legal permission to work ^[2]. Another source indicates that she worked as a model in the US prior to obtaining a work visa, earning tens of thousands of dollars for 10 modeling assignments between September 10 and October 15, 1996, when her visa only allowed her to be in the US and look for work, but not to perform paid work ^[1]. However, some sources do not directly address the validity of her work visa during that time, instead discussing her immigration history, visa application, and path to citizenship ^{[3] [4]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key missing context in the original statement is the specific type of visa Melania Trump held during her early modeling career ^[1]. Some sources mention that she obtained a visa reserved for immigrants with 'extraordinary ability' and 'sustained national and international acclaim', but do not directly address the validity of her work visa during that time ^[3]. Additionally, the sources do not provide information on the consequences of working without a valid work visa, or how this may have affected her immigration status ^[1]. Alternative viewpoints, such as the perspective of Melania Trump's immigration lawyer, Michael Wildes, who criticizes the White House's proposed changes to the H-1B visa system, are also presented ^[4]. Furthermore, some sources mention a petition calling for the deportation of Melania Trump and her family, citing her immigration history, which adds another layer of complexity to the issue ^[5].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading or incomplete, as it does not provide context about the specific type of visa Melania Trump held during her early modeling career ^[1]. The sources suggest that she may have worked without a valid work visa, but the implications of this are not fully explored ^{[2] [1]}. Additionally, some sources may have a bias against the Trump family, as evidenced by the petition calling for their deportation ^[5]. On the other hand, sources that discuss Melania Trump's immigration lawyer and his criticism of the White House's visa policies may have a bias in favor of immigration reform ^[4]. Overall, the sources present a complex and multifaceted issue, with different perspectives and potential biases ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}.