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spanone

(135,841 posts)
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 01:20 PM Mar 2018

How did Slovenian model Melania Trump score U.S. 'Einstein visa' for gifted academics?

Her biggest job at the time she applied was a spot in the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated, which saw her on the beach in a string bikini

WASHINGTON — In 2000, Melania Knauss, a Slovenian model dating Donald Trump, began petitioning the government for the right to permanently reside in the United States under a program reserved for people with “extraordinary ability.”

Knauss’ credentials included runway shows in Europe, a Camel cigarette billboard ad in Times Square and — in her biggest job at the time — a spot in the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated, which featured her on the beach in a string bikini, hugging a six-foot inflatable whale.

In March 2001, she was granted a green card in the elite EB-1 program, which was designed for renowned academic researchers, multinational business executives or those in other fields, such as Olympic athletes and Oscar-winning actors, who demonstrated “sustained national and international acclaim.”

“We called it the Einstein visa,” said Bruce Morrison, a former Democratic congressman and chairman of the House subcommittee that wrote the Immigration Act of 1990 defining EB-1.


http://montrealgazette.com/news/world/how-did-working-model-melania-trump-score-u-s-einstein-visa-for-gifted-academics/wcm/3ab1cfa7-d8d1-4861-9e79-81a12d37bfec
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How did Slovenian model Melania Trump score U.S. 'Einstein visa' for gifted academics? (Original Post) spanone Mar 2018 OP
When you marry a billionaire* yellerpup Mar 2018 #1
Reportedly there was a husband before Trump... HipChick Mar 2018 #14
If she was smart MFM008 Mar 2018 #2
Oscar winning actors lapfog_1 Mar 2018 #3
LOL Scurrilous Mar 2018 #63
Any immigrant working in the fields is more valuable to the nation, works harder, etc. Eliot Rosewater Mar 2018 #4
Proof positive that physically attractive features do not make on "beautiful"... Moostache Mar 2018 #5
Well she did get her 4 year degree from the University of Ljubljana in 1 term Botany Mar 2018 #6
She didn't. Her high fashion modeling career is a "myth" as well. pandr32 Mar 2018 #10
I have yet to see a valid portfolio... HipChick Mar 2018 #13
Exactly pandr32 Mar 2018 #23
Well the Trump web site used to say that she had a degree in architecture and design Botany Mar 2018 #15
The contrast between Donny and Hillary is striking pandr32 Mar 2018 #25
And look @ Ivanka going to the Olympics and wearing the Team USA outfit w/somebody else's media .... Botany Mar 2018 #27
The whole Trump family should have to wear hazmat warnings pandr32 Mar 2018 #62
No they officially changed her story about a degree. Trump voters didn't seem to care about lies lunasun Mar 2018 #31
It's said she can whip up a mean sprinkleeninow Mar 2018 #39
Any of the people ICE has deported are worth more than this woman. redstatebluegirl Mar 2018 #7
ICE is deporting a polish born Doctor. Blue_true Mar 2018 #21
The visa is not just for gifted academics WilmywoodNCparalegal Mar 2018 #8
Receipts? I don't believe that she did not get any special consideration.. HipChick Mar 2018 #11
Again, I can't disclose a lot of information WilmywoodNCparalegal Mar 2018 #36
Understood, I am very familiar with the Immigration process... HipChick Mar 2018 #37
Cool! tazkcmo Mar 2018 #12
'she did not get special consideration in any way'...???.....read her modeling credits spanone Mar 2018 #16
Yes they're modest WilmywoodNCparalegal Mar 2018 #34
Here's the criteria atreides1 Mar 2018 #53
It is tough to believe she met those; though not knowing about treestar Mar 2018 #61
And how many of those EB-1 visa holders Mr.Bill Mar 2018 #24
She became a USC in 2006 WilmywoodNCparalegal Mar 2018 #33
Thanks for that info. Mr.Bill Mar 2018 #35
Lying getting a Visa is a crime, isn't it? duforsure Mar 2018 #9
Playing hard to get must have benefits sarah FAILIN Mar 2018 #17
The gift was er for "model" work and we all know what that means... sunonmars Mar 2018 #18
She even said during the campaign that she got the Visa because of her modeling. politicaljunkie41910 Mar 2018 #52
Well she is gifted at grifting malaise Mar 2018 #19
She does possess a special grift. sprinkleeninow Mar 2018 #40
DUzy malaise Mar 2018 #59
Part of her White House bio is ismnotwasm Mar 2018 #20
Like this? sprinkleeninow Mar 2018 #43
... orangecrush Mar 2018 #48
Heh-heh. sprinkleeninow Mar 2018 #55
LOLOLOL ismnotwasm Mar 2018 #50
See how I revealed my chronological? 😆 sprinkleeninow Mar 2018 #56
There is nothing "gifted" about subjecting oneself to touching a flaccid orange tiny penis for Guy Whitey Corngood Mar 2018 #22
Well, academics are all about the mind, and the mind is in the head The_jackalope Mar 2018 #26
If you're suggesting that a good blowie is as much Art as it is Volaris Mar 2018 #66
Well it's less about who you know more about who you ....... Fullduplexxx Mar 2018 #28
Gifted academics? She can barely speak English! ollie10 Mar 2018 #29
To be fair, neither can many DeminPennswoods Mar 2018 #47
Its odd that someone who has been here for so long still has terrible English. onecaliberal Mar 2018 #54
Wasn't she supposed to speak several languages fluently? ollie10 Mar 2018 #58
She is hard to understand. onecaliberal Mar 2018 #64
Many, many people are asking that. SAD! Stinky The Clown Mar 2018 #30
Have you not heard? lunasun Mar 2018 #32
in related news... SleeplessinSoCal Mar 2018 #38
Loved this statement in this article: she wasnt a super model she was an average working model.... a kennedy Mar 2018 #41
She was an esteemed architecture graduate - at least that's what Trump lied about Laura PourMeADrink Mar 2018 #42
Don't worry, she'll have a press conference and explain the whole thing eleny Mar 2018 #44
Am I The Only One That Found The "6 Foot Whale" Thing Hilarious? ProfessorGAC Mar 2018 #45
If only it had been Orange flibbitygiblets Mar 2018 #57
She was smart enough to marry an American DeminPennswoods Mar 2018 #46
She was smart enough to marry a rich American...esp Trump HipChick Mar 2018 #60
she worked here without a green card or work permit scarytomcat Mar 2018 #49
Maybe she had some unique skills that have not yet been revealed. MineralMan Mar 2018 #51
Nope I'm not gonna write it. Volaris Mar 2018 #65

MFM008

(19,814 posts)
2. If she was smart
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 01:23 PM
Mar 2018

She would have run away from any introduction to Red Don.

Except for $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Eliot Rosewater

(31,112 posts)
4. Any immigrant working in the fields is more valuable to the nation, works harder, etc.
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 01:24 PM
Mar 2018

But then the entire trump and kushner families, along with the mcconnell and ryan and limbaugh and hannity families, for example, dont deserve to live in this great nation and any immigrant is a FAR better person than they are.

Moostache

(9,895 posts)
5. Proof positive that physically attractive features do not make on "beautiful"...
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 01:24 PM
Mar 2018

There is enough gold-digging sleazy crap about her and her family that make it obvious why she fits in well with the Trump crime family. As far as I am concerned, being a dutiful Mafia-wife does not equate to being innocent...she is Karen Hill, along for the ride and in on everything.

Hypocrisy is something that only bothers Democrats in general and Republicans If and ONLY If it involves a Democrat...

pandr32

(11,586 posts)
23. Exactly
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 02:00 PM
Mar 2018

With her fame now any existing pictures of her on the runways of Milan and Paris would be everywhere.

Botany

(70,510 posts)
15. Well the Trump web site used to say that she had a degree in architecture and design
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 01:36 PM
Mar 2018

but then again Donny used to say he was at the top of his class @ Wharton.

BTW Hillary really was @ or near the top her class @ Wellesly.

Rodham was the 1969 senior class president, and at age 21, Hillary D. Rodham was the first student commencement speaker in the history of Wellesley College. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

http://www.vistacollege.edu/blog/resources/the-education-of-hillary-clinton/

pandr32

(11,586 posts)
25. The contrast between Donny and Hillary is striking
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 02:06 PM
Mar 2018

Hillary's commencement speech was wonderful and inspirational. She definitely flagged her future as a committed feminist and human being.
Donny? He laundered Russian mob money, using it to open his casinos, and he used speed (but didn't drink alcohol). What a guy!

Botany

(70,510 posts)
27. And look @ Ivanka going to the Olympics and wearing the Team USA outfit w/somebody else's media ....
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 02:23 PM
Mar 2018

.... around her neck. We had a local girl make the 2012 US Olympic Diving team* and the
10s of thousands of hours of practice she put in was amazing and now we have grift weasel
poser like Ivanka?

BTW compare Ivanka to John Kerry's daughter ..... a Dr. @ Mass General and connected to
the Harvard Med School.


* Katie Bell

pandr32

(11,586 posts)
62. The whole Trump family should have to wear hazmat warnings
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 07:38 PM
Mar 2018

They trample all over those who work hard and have honest values and then look down their noses at them. The only value any of them have is in serving as a bad example we never want to see the likes of again...anywhere.
We have so many wonderful, accomplished people to chose from to represent us.
Remember tRump pushing his way past all those world leaders to get in front and then straightening his suit jacket as though he deserved to be there? That is how the whole damn family is--disgusting people.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
21. ICE is deporting a polish born Doctor.
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 01:54 PM
Mar 2018

Big person in his community, has done a lot of Public Health Service work. Came here as a three year old. Has US born kids. Means nothing to ICE, even as people in his community are begging ICE to find a way to allow the guy to stay in the USA.

WilmywoodNCparalegal

(2,654 posts)
8. The visa is not just for gifted academics
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 01:30 PM
Mar 2018

FWIW, I have personal knowledge of the situation. That's as far as I'll go. The EB-1 is an employment-based category for those seeking a permanent residence (there are also the EB-2, the EB-3, etc. including the infamous EB-5). EB stands for employment based, as opposed to family-based.

The EB-1 is the first priority, those who get permanent residence out of the allotted quota first. It is based on extraordinary ability. This ability can be in any field: arts, sciences, business, athletics, and yes, modeling.

It is not just for academicians. I've done many such permanent residence I-140 EB-1s for designers, architects, hairstylists, makeup artists, chefs, surgeons, logo designers, tattoo artists, actors, directors, models and so on.

There are several criteria set out by USCIS over what constitutes 'extraordinary ability' and, while these criteria are fairly easy and objective for those in scientific fields, they are far less so for those in artistic fields (including modeling).

However, Melania met those requirements and she did not get special consideration in any way. Again, we can hate on her and the Trump mob all we want, but I wanted to set this issue straight without disclosing any other particulars.

HipChick

(25,485 posts)
11. Receipts? I don't believe that she did not get any special consideration..
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 01:33 PM
Mar 2018

Based on personal knowledge, without being able to disclose any other particulars..she then used it to "Chain Migrate " her parents and sister

WilmywoodNCparalegal

(2,654 posts)
36. Again, I can't disclose a lot of information
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 02:47 PM
Mar 2018

but I can tell you that she didn't get any special consideration from me or anyone else involved. I cannot comment on what happened (if anything) once the petition reached the USCIS.

Also, any USC and any permanent resident above the age of 21 can petition for his/her parents and brothers/sisters under the family-based queue. What reps call 'chain migration' is actually a misnomer.

Example, when my dad went through the green card process I turned 21. The attorney my dad's company hired was not an immigration lawyer and didn't realize he had to advise INS (as USCIS was known at the time) that I was aging out. Age 21 is the age where you're considered independent of your family.

Therefore, my dad - by then a permanent resident - filed an I-130 Alien Relative Petition on my behalf (unmarried daughter over 21) to place me in the very long queue. He became a USC 5 years later (it takes 5 years as a permanent resident to apply for citizenship; 3 years if married to a USC) and that bumped me up a couple of categories. But I still ended up waiting a total of 10 years before I got my green card and only because I ended up marrying a USC. Otherwise, the total wait in my queue was 14 years (it's longer for those from Mexico, China and Philippines). I was a permanent resident for several years but eventually became a USC in 2016 (my own choice to wait).

I'd rather we not use the term 'chain migration' because of its very negative connotation.

HipChick

(25,485 posts)
37. Understood, I am very familiar with the Immigration process...
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 02:50 PM
Mar 2018

and your timelines appear about right...
based on time line Melania is claiming...hers do not...

spanone

(135,841 posts)
16. 'she did not get special consideration in any way'...???.....read her modeling credits
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 01:39 PM
Mar 2018

they are modest to the point of barely existing.

WilmywoodNCparalegal

(2,654 posts)
34. Yes they're modest
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 02:40 PM
Mar 2018

but again the USCIS criteria are to blame. You don't have to be a supermodel to be approved for an EB-1 I-140.

atreides1

(16,079 posts)
53. Here's the criteria
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 04:25 PM
Mar 2018
https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-first-preference-eb-1

You must meet 3 out of the 10 listed criteria below to prove extraordinary ability in your field:

Evidence of receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence
Evidence of your membership in associations in the field which demand outstanding achievement of their members
Evidence of published material about you in professional or major trade publications or other major media
Evidence that you have been asked to judge the work of others, either individually or on a panel
Evidence of your original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance to the field
Evidence of your authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media
Evidence that your work has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases
Evidence of your performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations
Evidence that you command a high salary or other significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the field
Evidence of your commercial successes in the performing arts

Which criteria did she meet?

treestar

(82,383 posts)
61. It is tough to believe she met those; though not knowing about
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 06:21 PM
Mar 2018

the modeling industry might make it unclear. Still, I would think extraordinary means extra special; like you can't just come because you play guitar in a rock band, you have to be John Lennon; likewise, you'd have to be the top supermodel; I can't think of one, but I'm sure somebody can. Someone already well known internationally.

WilmywoodNCparalegal

(2,654 posts)
33. She became a USC in 2006
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 02:39 PM
Mar 2018

also something I'm very familiar with. It only takes 5 years of permanent residence (with some caveats on continuous residence, etc.) before you can become a USC and only 3 years if you're a permanent resident married to USC (which happened to her).

The USC process is relatively easy. Form N-400, filing fees, a couple of photographs, a copy of the back and front of your green card. Then, you're called in for biometrics. Then, you're called in for your test and interview. Then, you're scheduled for the oath, upon which you become a USC. You can apply for a passport on the same day.

When I became a USC in 2016, I was able to apply for the passport right after taking my oath. The passport folks were right there, as were the voter registration folks and Social Security Admin folks.

sarah FAILIN

(2,857 posts)
17. Playing hard to get must have benefits
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 01:42 PM
Mar 2018

Remember, she didn't ask how high when he first said jump.
More likely she figured out which button to push better than the other candidates he was auditioning at the time.

politicaljunkie41910

(3,335 posts)
52. She even said during the campaign that she got the Visa because of her modeling.
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 04:19 PM
Mar 2018

She also lied to obtain her green card because she was working in this country while she was in the country on a Visitor's Visa which did not permit her to work while on a Visitor's Visa. In an interview she did on television, she claimed that she did everything she was supposed to do. She claimed that she went back home every 90 days to get her Visa renewed. Lawrence O'Donnell (of The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell Show) had an Immigration Officer on his show and he played for him the interview that she did talking about her following the rules and going home every 90 days to get her Visa renewed. The Immigration Officer said that if she had a valid Work Visa, there would have been no reason for her to return to her home country every 90 days. The only reason she would have had to return to her country every 90 days is if she was working in this country while here on a Visitor's Visa. That is the only way her story made any sense. He said that if she came to this country on a Visitor's Visa, it did not permit her to work legally in this country. He also said Visitor's Visa expire after 90 days (which is why she would have kept leaving and returning to get a new Visitor's Visa).

He also said that lying on her application for a Green Card would have been grounds for denial of a Visa, permanently. He said that on her application for a Green Card, it asks whether she had ever worked in this country while here on her Visitor Visa. If she lied and said No when she had, that was grounds for permanently denying her a Visa. Since she had been working while in this country on a Visitor's Visa, the Immigration Officer stated that if she had answered Yes to working in this country during her interview, she would not have been eligible for a Green Card, and therefore she must have lied on her Green Card application and during her interview.

The_jackalope

(1,660 posts)
26. Well, academics are all about the mind, and the mind is in the head
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 02:11 PM
Mar 2018

And Melania gives exceptional head.

Quod Erat Demonstrandum

Volaris

(10,271 posts)
66. If you're suggesting that a good blowie is as much Art as it is
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 08:32 PM
Mar 2018

Science AND personal experience, Sir, allow me to buy you a drink.

onecaliberal

(32,861 posts)
54. Its odd that someone who has been here for so long still has terrible English.
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 04:26 PM
Mar 2018

Especially when she is around people who speak nothing but English.

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
42. She was an esteemed architecture graduate - at least that's what Trump lied about
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 03:35 PM
Mar 2018

for her bio - only to take it down later -of course, it wasn't true. this is a fact because I saw it with my own eyes before scrubbed

ProfessorGAC

(65,057 posts)
45. Am I The Only One That Found The "6 Foot Whale" Thing Hilarious?
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 03:40 PM
Mar 2018

The SI photo was of her hugging a 6 foot whale. Is that appropriate or not?

DeminPennswoods

(15,286 posts)
46. She was smart enough to marry an American
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 03:41 PM
Mar 2018

and have an anchor baby. Just sayin'... Wonder if she and the rest of her chain migration family could be deported for visa fraud if she divorces Trump.

scarytomcat

(1,706 posts)
49. she worked here without a green card or work permit
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 04:06 PM
Mar 2018

her parents got in also
someone was pulling strings for trump
Who?

MineralMan

(146,317 posts)
51. Maybe she had some unique skills that have not yet been revealed.
Thu Mar 1, 2018, 04:09 PM
Mar 2018

Maybe she was just using her head in some way we haven't learned. Who can say?

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