If you’ve ever scrolled through political Twitter or watched a late-night talk show during the last decade, you’ve probably heard people arguing about Melania Trump’s immigration status. It's one of those topics that never quite goes away. Some people treat it like a top-secret mystery, while others act like it’s a simple open-and-shut case.
But when did Melania become a citizen of the United States, exactly?
The short answer is July 28, 2006.
That was the day she officially took the oath of allegiance. It’s a date that marked the end of a ten-year journey from Slovenia to New York City and, eventually, to the White House. But the path she took to get there—specifically the "Einstein Visa"—is where things get interesting and, honestly, a little complicated.
The Long Road from Slovenia to New York
Melania Knavs didn’t just wake up one day in Manhattan. She arrived in the U.S. back in August 1996. Initially, she entered on a B1/B2 visitor visa. Now, if you know anything about immigration, you know a tourist visa doesn't let you work. You can visit. You can look at the Statue of Liberty. You can even interview for jobs. But you cannot get paid.
Controversy flared up years later when reports suggested she might have done some modeling work before her work visa was officially approved. Her lawyer, Michael Wildes, has always maintained she followed the rules. According to his records, she obtained her first H-1B work visa on October 18, 1996.
🔗 Read more: Bhavana Pandey Explained: What Most People Get Wrong About the Original Bollywood Wife
For the next few years, she lived the life of a working model in New York. She wasn't exactly a household name yet, but she was doing well enough to keep her status legal. Then, her career—and her immigration path—took a massive turn.
When Did Melania Become a Citizen of the United States? Understanding the EB-1
Most people who get green cards do it through marriage or a job offer. Melania did something a bit rarer. In 2000, she sponsored herself for a green card under the EB-1 program.
This is the famous "Einstein Visa."
Technically, it’s for people with "extraordinary ability." Think Nobel Prize winners, world-class athletes, or top-tier scientists. In 2001, she was one of only five people from Slovenia to get one. Critics love to point this out. They ask, "Was she really an 'Einstein' level model?"
To be fair, the requirements aren't just about being a genius. You have to meet at least three out of ten specific criteria. For a model, that might include:
💡 You might also like: Benjamin Kearse Jr Birthday: What Most People Get Wrong
- Evidence of commercial success (like those massive Camel cigarette billboards she was on in Times Square).
- Work displayed at artistic exhibitions.
- Leading roles in distinguished organizations.
- High salary compared to others in the field.
She got the green card in March 2001. Once you have a green card, the clock starts ticking toward citizenship.
The Naturalization Milestone
After you get a green card through a professional visa, you generally have to wait five years before you can apply to become a naturalized citizen. Melania did exactly that.
She didn't rush it. She didn't skip steps.
By the time 2006 rolled around, she had been married to Donald Trump for about a year. They tied the knot in January 2005. Interestingly, she didn't actually need the marriage to get her citizenship; she was already on her own track thanks to that EB-1 visa. On July 28, 2006, she sat for her citizenship test, took the oath, and officially became an American.
It’s a bit of a milestone in White House history, too. She is the first First Lady in U.S. history to be a naturalized citizen. Louisa Adams (wife of John Quincy Adams) was born abroad, but she wasn't "naturalized" in the modern sense because the laws were totally different in the 1820s.
📖 Related: Are Sugar Bear and Jennifer Still Married: What Really Happened
The "Chain Migration" Debate
You can't talk about Melania's citizenship without mentioning her parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs. Once Melania became a citizen, she gained the legal right to sponsor her parents for their own green cards.
This is a process known as family reunification, or as her husband frequently called it on the campaign trail, "chain migration."
It’s a point of massive irony for many political analysts. While Donald Trump was calling for an end to the practice, his own in-laws were using it to move to the U.S. and eventually become citizens themselves in 2018.
What This Means for You
If you’re looking into this because you’re navigating the immigration system yourself, there are a few real-world takeaways from Melania’s story:
- The H-1B is a bridge: It’s a common starting point for professional workers, but it doesn't lead to a green card automatically. You usually need a separate petition.
- The EB-1 isn't just for scientists: If you are at the top of your field—whether that’s art, business, or athletics—you might qualify for "extraordinary ability" status. It’s hard to get, but it gives you a lot of freedom because you don't need an employer to sponsor you.
- Documentation is everything: The questions surrounding Melania’s early work in 1996 show how important it is to keep every single pay stub and visa stamp. One mistake a decade ago can come back to haunt you during a naturalization interview.
Basically, Melania Trump’s journey was a mix of standard procedure and high-level legal maneuvering. She moved from a visitor to a worker, then to a "genius" visa holder, and finally to a citizen over the course of ten years.
Next Steps for Your Research
To get a better handle on how these laws work today, you should look into the current USCIS requirements for the N-400 (Application for Naturalization). This document outlines the physical presence and "good moral character" requirements that every applicant, including former First Ladies, must meet. Additionally, if you're curious about the EB-1 path, check the USCIS "Extraordinary Ability" criteria to see how modern standards compare to the early 2000s.