More than two decades after Melania Trump entered the United States on a special visa reserved for individuals with “extraordinary abilities,” the debate around how she qualified continues to resurface.

Recently, the subject returned to public discussion after Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat, questioned how the former First Lady had obtained what is commonly referred to as an “Einstein visa.” During a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Crockett implied that Melania’s modeling career may not have met the visa’s high threshold, typically reserved for recipients of awards like the Pulitzer Prize or Olympic medals.

But was it truly unusual for Melania to receive this type of visa?

Fact-checking site Snopes has since investigated the matter. While it could not definitively confirm that Melania held an EB-1 visa — the formal name for the so-called Einstein visa — the site noted that individuals in the modeling industry have received such visas under certain conditions. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, EB-1 applicants must demonstrate “sustained national or international acclaim” and a proven record of extraordinary achievement in their field.

Melania began working in the U.S. as a model in the mid-1990s after being discovered by fashion executive Paolo Zampolli, who later introduced her to Donald Trump. She initially entered the U.S. on a tourist visa before transitioning to a series of work visas. In 2001, she was granted a green card, which her lawyer stated was based on the EB-1 category.

While critics argue that Melania did not have the accolades typically associated with the EB-1 — such as major awards or widespread media recognition — Snopes pointed out that some models and entertainers have qualified for EB-1 or similar O-1 visas in the past. These include performers like John Oliver and former Playboy model Shera Bechard, both of whom were granted O-1 visas that also require “extraordinary ability.”

Ultimately, Snopes concluded that it is not “improbable” for a working model to qualify for permanent residency through the EB-1 category, though specific details of Melania’s case remain private.

The question over her visa touches on a broader debate about how U.S. immigration policies are applied — and who gets access to the system’s most exclusive pathways. But legally speaking, Melania’s case may not be as out of the ordinary as it appears.