Melania Trump’s path to the United States began like many others: with a dream, a suitcase, and a visa application. Arriving as a young model from Slovenia, she worked her way into America’s fashion scene before eventually marrying Donald Trump and stepping into the global spotlight as First Lady of the United States.

But now, more than two decades later, the story of how Melania obtained legal residency in the U.S. is back in the headlines—and it’s raising sharp questions about immigration, fairness, and political double standards.

At the center of the controversy is the visa Melania received in 2001: the EB-1, commonly referred to as the “Einstein visa.” It’s a highly selective category designed for individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, business, or athletics.