It’s interesting to me that in Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, his daughter Ivanka is being used as his surrogate much more than his third wife, Melania. Melania has given a handful of interviews in support of her husband, but I suspect that Trump’s people don’t really want to remind voters that Trump is A) on his third marriage and B) married to a “foreigner.” Still, Melania isn’t just going to sit at home and raise their child (Barron). Nope – she’s going to pose for an editorial in Harper’s Bazaar and talk about her husband! The photos were obviously shot in Melania and Donald’s gold-plated New York apartment, because classy. The interview is pretty great too. Some highlights:
Why Donald would make a great president: “He is a great leader—the best leader, an amazing negotiator. America needs that, and he believes in America. He believes in its potential and what it can be, because it is now in big trouble… I just believe he has what it takes to be an amazing president.”
On her relationship with her husband: “I give him my opinions, and sometimes he takes them in, and sometimes he does not. Do I agree with him all the time? No. I think it is good for a healthy relationship. I am not a ‘yes’ person. No matter who you are married to, you still need to lead your life. I don’t want to change him. And he doesn’t want to change me.”
The first time she met Trump: “He wanted my number, but he was with a date, so of course I didn’t give it to him. I said, ‘I am not giving you my number; you give me yours, and I will call you.’ I wanted to see what kind of number he would give me—if it was a business number, what is this? I’m not doing business with you. [Instead, Donald gave her all of his numbers] the office, Mar-a-Lago, home in New York, everything… I was struck by his energy. He has an amazing sense of vitality.”
On remaining in the shadows: “Because of who my husband is, and our life, and also he is number one in the polls—well, you take that all together, and people are very curious about me. I’m choosing not to go political in public because that is my husband’s job. I’m very political in private life, and between me and my husband I know everything that is going on. I follow from A to Z. But I chose not to be on the campaign. I made that choice. I have my own mind. I am my own person, and I think my husband likes that about me.”
On her naturalization process to become a US Citizen: “I followed the rules. I came here for my career, and I did so well, I moved here. It never crossed my mind to stay here without papers. That is just the person you are. You follow the rules. You follow the law. Every few months you need to fly back to Europe and stamp your visa. After a few visas, I applied for a green card and got it in 2001. After the green card, I applied for citizenship. And it was a long process.”
On Cecily Strong’s comedic portrayal of her on Saturday Night Live: “It’s kind of an honor, actually, to have someone play you like that in a fun way. We laugh a lot about that. It’s funny to see how people see you.”
I rolled my eyes at… well, so much of this. But what upset me was her blasé answer to the question about her citizenship. While I don’t doubt that she did everything legally, only a rich model-turned-trophy-wife has the option of simply flying back to Europe every so often as a shortcut to the visa process, and of course she eventually naturalized: she married an American citizen! As for everything else… bless her heart. If Trump actually wins some of the early primary states, it will be interesting to see if Melania comes out to events more often, or does more press. Because I don’t think she’s really helping her husband, but hey, what do I know?
Photos courtesy of Douglas Friedman/Harper’s Bazaar.
He was on a date with another woman when they met so she asked for his numbers instead of giving her own?
And she thinks that makes it okay?
Clearly he’s an advocate for women.
He respects us.
I’m advocating for any women who even slightly entertain this man in a romantic sense.
Advocating for their right to receive the mental healthcare they need and deserve.
So much of what she said is just ridiculously stupid and out of touch. And she was struck by his “energy.” Yeah, right. I’m sure his billions had nothing to do with it.
She would TOTALLY still be married to him if he didn’t have money. Cause “energy”.
A date is not a relationship. If he was out with a fiancee or wife, that would have been a different story. Also, she said it was a long process to citizenship. She was able to fly back to Europe for her Visa. Anyone who is able to would surely do that. That doesn’t make her less of a person. Finally, that apartment needs gutting.
It is still rude of either one of them to ask for phone numbers. If that had happened to me with some guy, the date would have been over and he could have gotten to know her right then and there.
So essentially if she had gone out on a date with him she’s be sitting patiently completely comfortable with him sneaking his phone number to another woman while she couldn’t see?
You’re right: marrying Donald Trump makes her less of a person.
Trying to pick up on another woman while on a date says so much about his character or lack thereof. That ladies and gentlemen is what we call a ‘playa’. Her taking his number also speaks volumes about her. Two peas in a pod, so then it shouldn’t come as a shock to her when he eventually finds his next wife while they are out on the town. LOL.
I’m glad she gave this interview so people can see the reality of who they are voting for. Most Americans ca’t rub two pennies together to fly to Disneyland let alone yearly trips to renew their visa in Europe. This is why the immigration system is rigged. Only the middle to upper Middle class or those connected can get a Visa from their native country. And in developing countries bribery is also involved. You can’t get a Visa from “just following the rules”.
My guess is next time they will have her give only scripted interviews because she isn’t coming across well to Joe Average voter.
He was on a date. Not with a wife. Chill out. You are not committed to someone just because you are on a date with them.
LMAO, well damn is the standard that low?
You can’t physically end one date before sneaking off to get someone else’s phone number?
Still rude – you should be “committed” to that date for the duration of the date. I’m sure he had ways of finding out who she was if he wanted her number that bad.
Aside from the notion of ‘love at first sight, so all’s fair in love and war’ that is sold to us in movies, in general it is rude to be hitting on people while you’re supposed to be giving you’re attention to your date, but no it’s not the worst thing in the world.
Still this should be put into context. Trump is a famously known, unapologetic womanizer who has made it clear to everybody from way back when he was putting up Marla Maples while he was married to Ivana that he only cares for himself. The Donald always comes first. (in and out of bed – lol)
No one said he was breaking a commitment, even though he has certainly done that as well. He was being very rude. You don’t go out on a date with one person and hit on another. Common courtesy.
I agree, GNAT – it’s just plain rude. I remember when my daughter was young, she’d gone a few doors down the road to her best friend’s house, for a planned play day. After a half hour she was back home, sobbing. Another girl, who’d recently moved to the area dropped by, and since my daughter’s friend’s mother was trying to court the new girl’s parents – she a popular singer and he a high-ranking police officer – the mum told my daughter she had to go home, as the other two girls needed to “spend time together”. My daughter was gutted. Rude. Rude. Rude. And the Trump abode is gawd-awful.
Not defending, but I see the logic in it. Being proactive and looking for better offers… Highest bidder of sorts.
Not in favor of it, but there’s reason to it.
Yes well he’s a business man and a wheeler-dealer LOL! I’m sure to him it was a perfectly pragmatic thing to do. He saw what he thought was a better conquest for himself, and he acted on it. It may be “rude”, but certainly not immoral or unethical.
Her billionaire standards are so impossibly high don’t you know! She’s barely understandable so I think the rubes following Trump might get confused because immigrants are so evil why does he keep marrying them? Also she’s married to a man who keeps talking about banging his married daughter – Trump is such a cockroach.
God, that apartment…a good reminder that money does not buy you taste.
just remember, Americans, this is how she would decorate the White House
Pretty sure Melania didn’t decorate that apartment. Meaning that I remember seeing it during the Ivana years in the late 80s/early 90s during their epic divorce. Same style. All that gold.
It might have been revamped/refurbished, but it’s inspiration was always versailles so if it has changed at all, it’s hardly noticeable. The gold is muted, but the style is classic. And an eyesore. And more befitting a palace than an apartment.
Yeah and with tax payers money. Why does the White House need to be redecorated every time there is a new president? Is that really necessary?
That apartment was Trump’s before Mel. It’s suvived several of his bankruptcy filings.
LAK
That’s why there are mirrors everywhere! For sake of illusions.
LAK: I just visited Paris and went to Versailles and thats exactly what I thought of when I saw Trumpy’s apartment. Its funny when my husband and I were at Versailles we kept commenting on how tacky lots of it was. While some of it is stunning a lot of the decor is very tacky with all the gold and different colored marble everywhere.
It’s just the private quarters that get re-decorated with each new family, not the whole place, although I think Jackie Kennedy did a major reno. And I seem to recall that the new china Nancy Reagan got was actually purchased by a Republic supporter, not the US taxpayers.
…and that when you marry for money, you earn every penny! Can you just imagine that thing on top of you sweating away, and then the curtain of hair flops onto your face?
There is not enough money, alcohol or drugs on earth to deal with that
“that thing on top of you sweating away, and then the curtain of hair flops onto your face?”
*dies laughing*
Brain bleach!
I don’t see him on top ever! If she’s not on her knees, she’s the one doing all the work. Easier to keep the bag over his head from slipping.
And that anus-looking mouth coming at you ……
LOL my mom always said that exact phrase to me when I was a teen. “When you marry for money, you earn every penny”
Also, I couldn’t have sex with that man *shudder* I almost vomited just typing that. UGH THE VISUAL! OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!
You are a very cruel person for giving us all that image! Blech!!! I don’t know if I will ever feel clean again…
Antipodean – I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at your comment… Perhaps I’ll continue giggling for a bit, and then go and be sick…
And the orange spray tan rubbing off on you and the sheets. Ewww….
And here I was, heating up lunch and deciding to come on to Celebitchy for some amusing entertainment and back-and-forth with the ever so funny posters, and am faced with a sweating Donald Trump with an anus mouth flopping his hair in Melania’s face while staining his sheets orange.
Best diet ever.
She did say she was attracted to his vitality!
My dog coincidentally gave a big, wet burp just as I finished reading antipodean’s comment, and I thought it was totally a fitting reaction.
my former employer used to do a convention every year in Atlantic City, and for the first few years I was there we were at the Trump Taj Mahal. When I saw the pics of their apartment, my jaw dropped.
It looks JUST LIKE the Taj. gold/tacky everywhere. we used to joke about it…”do you think his homes look like this, too?!”
apparently so.
The Trump Taj Mahal is so over the top tacky! I think it was built during the worst aesthetic of the 80s, and then hasn’t been updated since.
Ugh what an affront to the real Taj Mahal.
@Talie
We don’t need to see his apartment to know he’s a classless entitled ass with money
Now this will be a First Lady I will be able to relate too. Haha.No wonder the Trump people don’t want her out there campaigning.
I followed the rules. It was an almost 9 year process from start to finish, and my mother is American by birth.
Doesn’t have anything to do with why people who have lived here and had children here–as well as the children themselves–shouldn’t have a path to citizenship.
Not to mention people always ignore the ways in which the US actually contributes to the creation of the poverty that brings migrants to the US–whether through the drug market/gun laws or agricultural subsidies or foreign policy.
I don’t understand your second paragraph.
meaning the process of immigration is one issue; the process of a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who have lived here for decades, paid taxes, and given birth to US citizen children is another. (Melania clearly thinks there is only one issue in question).
The children could actually sponsor the parents to become US citizens if the law didn’t remove that option in retaliation for the illegal entry.
“as well as the children themselves”=I have no idea what I meant with that. 🙂
Ah, thank you. Sorry to be dense.
OMG, THANK YOU!!!!!
If your mom is American by birth how does that not make you a naturalized citizen? Apparently that’s the card Ted Cruz is playing. His mom was born here but he was born in Canada. His attorneys argue that if one of your parents are born here and you are not, you are still a naturalized citizen. That’s how the douche is still running for prez.
like all boring bureaucracy, it depends. Has to do with your age/your parents age. You have to have been born in the US and have resided there for at least 14 years in order to act as a sponsor for your dependents to immigrate. Your dependents will be able to apply for green cards (permanent residency). Once you have the green card, you have to live in the US for 7 years before you can apply for naturalization.
That’s how it would’ve worked for Ted Cruz, who would’ve gotten sponsorship via his mother….unless he was like my son, who was born to two US citizen parents (one native + one naturalized) outside the US, which qualified him for citizenship at birth. We just had to register him at the US consulate.
The only thing I can think of is it might be slightly different if you fulfill the 7 year residency req’t before you turn 18. Either way, it’s still not automatic and takes years. I don’t really get that guy.
@GreenieWeenie
How long ago did you go through the citizenship process for yourself?
I ask, because I recently (2 years ago) gave birth outside the USA. My son is a French citizen (by birth and his father, my husband, is French) and in order for him to get his American citizenship, we filled out paperwork and had an interview at the local American embassy. I had to prove that I was born in the USA and lived a significant amount of time there (I used school transcripts, tax records from different jobs, family photos, etc.) after talking to me for about 2 min, the official granted my son USA citizenship – he got a SS card, passport, and proof of US citizen birth abroad (to be used as a birth certificate, as need be).
My son can move/work/live in the USA as any normal citizen, no need to apply for permanent residency or green card or naturalization.
I always assumed this was the same for Ted Cruz.
^^I looked it up on my son’s paperwork since I just did it; what I wrote was mostly correct. More blahblahblah about this age that age plus residency. But basically yeah. Two citizen parents=automatic, one citizen parent=conditional.
So for me and Cruz, our one citizen parent had to have lived in the US some amount of time that varies in reference whether that parent fulfilled it prior to/after age 14. He had to naturalize, like I did. My mom lived in the US only until the age of 14. When she was sponsoring us, she was like 35. And we were all around/approaching age 16, which is another magical age in the immigration process (something to do with who has to apply for what when).
@Liz B, your son probably qualified automatically because you (presumably) lived there from birth well into your adult life? And you were applying at his birth. When I did that for my son, they didn’t even bother interview us.
@GreenieWeenie
Ah, ok. Yes, that must be why – I lived in the USA from birth until 26 years. I mean, I had a few months here and there living in foreign countries for “study abroad,” but they don’t count that as residency.
Interesting. I never paid any attention to these things until I needed to for my kids. It’s complicated. But in a sick way, I’m fascinated by all these details hahaha
Thanks
Second what GreenieWeenie said, with another point that it also depends on how long the American parent spend in the US after the age of 14. I was looking into this last night bc I didn’t understand how Obama Birthers could ok Cruz and yet not Obama (in their hypothetical world where he was born in Kenya). Apparently the American parent generally has to spend 5 years in the U.S. after the age of 14 to give automatic citizenship to his/her child. Obama’s mother left just shy of her 19th birthday, not fulfilling this criteria. That said, there are exceptions and complications that Obama probably would have qualified for but I didn’t bother to read more since Obama was pretty clearly born in Hawaii.
Anyways, a silly comment but wanted to share in case anyone else had wondered about the birther double standard.
Yeah, it depends on a few factors. My mom was born and raised in the US and then moved to Canada in her late twenties and I was born in Canada (my dad was Canadian). The rules at the time I was born for passing US citizenship to a child born outside the US were that she had to have been a) born in the US (which she was) and b) lived in the US continuously for a certain number of years after her 14th birthday or something (which she did). So she went to the US consulate in Toronto and registered my birth, the State Department acknowledged my citizenship and that was the document I used to get my US passport.
Same for me: American mother, moved to Canada in mid-twenties, I was born in Canada. She registered me at birth. I got a SSN around 18. I don’t have a passport, but I do (somewhere) have my Certificate of American Birth Abroad, which should qualify me for the passport. There were a few wrinkles because my mother lived abroad in her childhood, but since she was a military brat accompanying her father when posted overseas, that definitely counts as an exception.
@vilebody, I don’t get the Cruz okay either. I speed-read an Atlantic article that tried to pretend it was a technicality and Cruz didn’t have to really go through the naturalization process (and could’ve claimed it at birth) but..his mother didn’t do anything for him at birth, so no. But we all knew birthers weren’t really about truth anyway.
The other reason Ted Cruz is arguably eligible to run for POTUS is that Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution only requires a candidate to be at least 35 years of age, a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years, and a “natural born citizen.” The Founding Fathers never defined “natural born citizen” anywhere, but the commonly accepted interpretation is that the candidate must be a U.S. citizen from birth and remain a U.S. citizen throughout his/her life. People who naturalize to U.S. citizenship or people who acquired citizenship through the naturalization of their parents/via the complex citizenship transmission requirements at some time after birth appear NOT to be “natural born citizens” and therefore ineligible to run for POTUS.
Ted Cruz was born in Calgary, Canada, and not on a U.S. military base or at an U.S. embassy. Interestingly, the Supreme Court has never actually ruled on whether a child born outside the territorial limits of the U.S. who acquired U.S. citizenship at birth through his or her parents – like Ted Cruz – is a “natural born citizen” for the purposes of running for POTUS.
President Obama’s birth and eligibility to run involved slightly different issues. There were three arguments against President Obama’s status as a natural born citizen that birthers liked to spout: 1) Hawaii was not a state when he was born, only a U.S. territory (WRONG); 2) because Hawaii was only a a territory when he was born in 1961 (LIE), he was born outside of the U.S. (WRONG) to a U.S. citizen mother and Kenyan father which meant that he did not acquire U.S. citizenship until he was 3 years old based on the citizenship transmission laws in effect at the time (WRONG); and 3) he was actually born in Kenya, not Hawaii (WRONG AGAIN).
Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959. At the time President Obama was born in 1961, jus soli citizenship (automatic acquisition of U.S. citizenship by birth within the territorial limits of the U.S.) had been the law in Hawaii for ages. In fact, 8 U.S.C. section 1405 (Immigration and Nationality Act section 305) explicitly states that a person “born in Hawaii on or after April 30, 1900, is a citizen of the United States at birth.”
As for Melania Trump, I do not know what kind of visa(s) she had prior to getting her green card, but I will say this: most people do not have to repeatedly exit the U.S. to obtain new visas to work legally in the U.S. The way I explain it to clients is this: the U.S. visa is your party invitation; it tells you when, where, and under what conditions you can apply to enter the U.S. The I-94 card that the bouncer, USCBP, issues to you upon arrival based on your U.S. visa is the key that unlocks the door to the party for you. It tells you exactly how long you can stay in the U.S. and what you can do while there. It is possible to extend the I-94 card’s authorized period of stay of most nonimmigrant visa classifications by filing an extension request with USCIS. But since only U.S. consulates outside the territorial limits of the U.S. can issue visas (you cannot get a visa stamped in your passport from USCIS or from the Department of State while inside the U.S.) and the U.S. limits the validity period as well as the number of entries for which visas may be used, if she were travelling in and out the U.S. a lot for work, it is entirely possible that she had to apply for multiple visas as she claims.
But honestly, I have to wonder about the real circumstances regarding the issuance and usage of her U.S. visas. Traveling back to Europe to get a visa “stamped” every few months is extremely unusual. She might be the rare case that legitimately had to do this, but it is NOT typical.
Thank you!!!!
My sister in law’s mother in an american citizen, but her children were not eligible for citizenship for years until maybe 1 year ago. However, Melania Trump just flew back and forth on her visas (which kind? The tourist and business?), married an american, had a child in the country, and was eligible for it.
That’s very odd because I became a citizen swiftly from my mother’s citizenship. Might depend on several factors not covered here and the country involved.
The rules regarding who can become a citizen through their parents or grandparents and when citizenship is actually acquired or transmitted are extremely complex and the subject of much litigation over the years. I have a ten page series of charts that I use to answer these kinds of inquiries from children and grandchildren of U.S. citizens. One of the tricky issues is that U.S. citizenship and naturalization laws are prospective in nature only. So whatever citizenship law was in effect at the time the putative U.S. citizen was born controls, NOT the law that is in effect today or was in effect when the U.S. citizen parent or parents were born.
When the law regarding automatic acquisition of U.S. citizenship for certain children was changed and set to go in effect on February 27, 2001, I and many other immigration lawyers worked long and hard with the then-INS to process all the citizenship cases for children who were eligible for citizenship under the expiring law but who would NOT be eligible under the new law. I remember spending six hours at INS on February 26, 2001, with two Liberian refugee children and their U.S. citizen grandmother to get their certificates of citizenship issued. God bless INS Officer Mary Chevis for working her tail off to make sure no child was left behind.
It’s odd because their mother never became a citizen of our country, she still is an American citizen. Her children were born here and only this year the Embassy told her they were eligible (they both 18+ years old). They both have visas and can enter the country through the Citizen’s queue (when their mother is present) but other than that it seems their mother’s citizenship would/will not be theirs.
thank you! there are so many different categories in the process of immigrating to the states, and it always irks me the insinuation that some people are cheating the system or taking shortcuts just because it doesn’t take as long to get a green card or citizenship as it does for others. just from my own research and experience it seems that no two cases take the same amount of time, even within the same immigration category — it can take some people decades to get in and others get in almost immediately, and there are a number of factors that contribute to that.
” Not to mention people always ignore the ways in which the US actually contributes to the creation of the poverty that brings migrants to the US–whether through the drug market/gun laws or agricultural subsidies or foreign policy.”
Thank You !!
It’s such a shame that Trump’s anti-immigrant, basically hater supporters, don’t nearly understand (nor want to) the horrific mess that we’re a part of internationally, in South America and especially just across our boarder.
If all you have to do to gain American citizenship is sneak over and squat, then please eliminate United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and allow anyone to come over and do what they want as long as they please. The current law discriminates against anyone who follows the law in favor of anyone who wishes not to.
Well now that’s the most over simplification I’ve ever heard.
Even immigrants that got their citizenship through a presidential amnesty declaration still had to show that they had been in the US and paying taxes for maybe up to 10 yrs. And despite that they usually lived many years in fear and without any rights or advocacy while being severely underpaid and taken advantage of.
How typical of Trump to ask for her number while on a date with another woman. She sounds vapid and coached and not very bright. Just what I would expect.
And that’s most likely the real reason she is not out campaigning for her husband , she’s not that bright. And yes she’s a trophy wife like some have said.
Can you imagine her trying to talk politics with other people in government. What would be her role if Trump wins? Can she do half of what a first lady should be doing or would she be our Kate Middleton?
Exactly. She’s not the sharpest tool in the shed so the Trump people are terrified of her talking to anybody. I’m actually surprised they even got this one interview out of her.
She’s really not. Her job is to stand there and look pretty and speak as little as possible.
Am I the only one who thinks this editorial looks like she’s a Price Is Right model? She could be posing with the items for the Showcase Showdown.
Don’t worry. In 2020 Kanye West is planning on being President, so if Trump gets it this time, you guys will only have to endure these two for one term…
I’ll give her this — she took a job most Americans wouldn’t take. Thank God for immigrants.
^^^^perfect!^^^^
LOL…..
*snort*
Boom.
Perfect.
He’s probably glad she stays in the background during the campaign since “that is my husband’s job.” (to be political in public).
Speaking of which, why does she always refer to him as “my husband”, rather than use his name? I can’t be arsed looking, so will someone please tell me where she’s originally from? Ta.
Melania clearly isn’t the brightest candle on the cake, but the same can be said about Trump. He just tweeted some crap where he located Paris in Germany. #whoneedsgeography #murica
Gah, I heard that. Could he be any more embarrassing?
She is probably smart but is very coached.
Ughh, to all of this nonsense. I still feel like we must all be getting trolled that he’s even trying to run for president.
I can’t imagine how they would ever be able to slum it by living at the white house if he actually GASP…..won.
Lol, I never thought of how the White House would be such a downgrade for them. I guess that’s because I believe there’s no way he will ever be elected.
Shoot me.
I had low expectations.
I thought she sounded better than expected.
I agree. And while I am not voting for or supporting Trump….I appreciate her lack of “political wife” shtick. Perhaps it’s my proximity to DC but those fake smile pearl clutching political wives make me barf.
Me too. She sounds a lot more intelligent than her husband at least.
Right? She’s not that terrible. You’d think she skinned kittens alive based on some of the comments here.
Yes, and I think we should all give Melania’s PR coach his/her due credit for that.
*snert*
Lip service or not, I appreciate her insistence that she is distinct from him and has her own mind. I am certain that behind closed doors she kowtows to him (earn that tacky apartment, girl) but even the persona is important.
I am no Trump fan, but I’ve actually heard from people, even those that despise Trump, that she is actually very nice and a very devoted mother. Of course, she’s married to Trump, so perhaps they’ve confused kindness with a broken spirit.
Me too! I always thought she’d be dumb as a post….so I have to admit I was surprised. She sounds smarter here than I would have thought.
Oh Melania. Someday on a date night, he’ll be slipping all of his phone numbers to a newer younger swimsuit model in a few years and then we’ll see what you have to say.
Someday? In a few years? I suspect he has been doing that non-stop his entire life.
Lilacflowers:
Ha! Exactly. That’s the deal I’m sure she made going in to the marriage. In exchange for access to his money and golden lifestyle she looks the other way when he feels like trying someone new on for size.
Like she cares. She married for money. She knows what’s up and I highly doubt she cares.
Exactly. And I can picture Trump as the kind of man that wants to have sex four times a day so I think Melania is probably quite happy that he gets some “help” elsewhere.
You guys suck for planting a visual in my head. You’re all in trouble and I will never forgive you for this.
She really simplified her naturalization process. Hahaha 🙄
I have had few visas too and I have 2 degrees from American Universities and I don’t even have a green card.
OK, Melanie. You worked really hard and brcame successful to get where you are now… 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
@Miss M how long have you been living in the U.S.? the immigration process sucks :/ My dad became a U.S. citizen but I was already over 18 so I didn’t get a chance to automatically become a citizen. So we applied for a permanent residency & got denied twice, a couple of thousand dollars later I got my green card. It’s a really hard & lengthy process that I don’t ever want to repeat ever again, except that I am because I have to do my U.S. citizenship application.
Almost 10 now! Seven and a half years of grad school education (master’s and PhD) alone. Congrats on your green card and good luck with tge citizenship process! I know it is not easy to do and Melanie was really blase ( as Kaiser pointed out) about it.
She comes off as completely and utterly stupid. FLOTUS makes her look like a piece of cardboard in a dress in terms of intelligence and grace.
And the idea of having a president with a gold-plated apartment makes me physically ill. He is a charicature of excess and greed.
She sounds o.k. to me. Not a PhD but certainly not completely and utterly stupid.
I only came here to say that I got really pissy at this meme I saw a few months ago of an unflattering picture of Michelle Obama and a beautiful picture of Melania split asking “Who would you rather as your first lady?” Really made me wanna vom. Yes, she’s lovely, but it amazes me what Trump supporters/Obama haters will say on social media to promote their “future president”. So I should forget that he’s a super a$$hat?
They pulled the same nonsense pitting Ann Romney against Michelle Obama. As if the position of First Lady was open to a vote.
I really enjoyed the meme where they had a side by side of Ann Romney and Bride of Chuckie, there was quite a resemblance.
I saw where they did that with Ben Carson’s wife and Michelle Obama and Michelle looked ten times better. It’s done on both sides to all. Not just to make Obama look bad.
If Trump was elected President, which just isn’t going to happen, Melania would be the first First Lady that we have seen naked. :/
And if Nicolas Sarkozy would be elected again French President in 2017, his wife Carla Bruni was also seen in the nude and furthermore a former girl friend of maybe US President Donald Trump.
The First House of the US and the First House of France would have more in common than what the nations could expect.
Angelica I tried to google image to see the meme you described and wasn’t able to find it…but what I did find….SHOCKED ME! Lots of memes comparing Michelle Obama to a monkey and other really degrading or racist things. I know I shouldn’t be surprised but it really did shock and disgust me.
That apartment. Ugh. When I see millionaire/billionaire’s homes, I always wonder where they watch Netflix and eat Cheetos.
Haha that is very true. They live in museums that get dusted and cleaned probably 5 times a day. They surely must have one room they can lounge in?
I think Melania disposes of her Cheetos dust onto Donald’s head.
Perfect!
That apartment makes me cringe.
That’s great for her that her citizenship process went so smoothly, but I don’t think she has a clue what it’s like for anyone else, nor do I think she cares to ever find out.
Yeah, the apartment and her citizenship comments — equally cringeworthy.
And I’m sure it’s in a fantastic location with gorgeous views..yet they decorate it like THAT.
It makes me think of the Trump hotel in Chicago. Really beautiful building but of course he had to f*ck up the lines by putting a gaudy-ass “TRUMP” sign on it.
Because Trump’s ego > perfect architectural composition.
Yes, the Trump building in Chicago didn’t have a sign for quite a while and people were digging it. The one day the sign started going up and the city was collectively groaning. So. Bad. Someone got a funny shot before the “T” went up and it just said “RUMP,” which was pretty priceless.
I’m curious to see if he tries that foolishness at the Old Post Office Pavilion, which some idiots in DC gave Trump permission to turn into one of his over rated hotels. They take historical preservation very seriously in DC and would not look kindly on a big gaudy Trump sign slapped on such a prominent old building.
It makes me insane that people actually think she would make a better, CLASSIER First Lady than Michelle Obama.
Really. Michelle Obama is so intelligent and down to earth. This one couldn’t think her way out of a paper bag. Do people really buy that she decided not to campaign? Come on, Trump’s people are coaching her for hours and hours to get her to sound this vapid and bland.
There was nothing this woman could have said that you would’ve liked. This is a great site for celeb gossip but terrible politically.
I could not possibly agree with you more.
Agree completely. Both sides say and do things. If you don’t agree with everything said here you will be belittled.
Why do you think Trump’s people are keeping her silent unless they absolutely have to let her talk? She’s a trophy wife with the brains and age difference that usually go along with that title.
Although, I do agree that this site very much leans one way politically and you sometimes get slammed if you don’t agree. I made a comment once that praised everything about Obama but one tiny thing and I was glad no one knew where I lived. So I get where you’re coming from, though I wouldn’t call it “terrible,” probably because I agree with much of it.
When was that, GNAT?
My remark? It was before Christmas. He said something about having a perfect temperament for being president and I said I thought he could be too stubborn. It did not go over. Lol.
I remember that. I’m ready to debate you on that point again, if you’re up for it! : )
No, Pinky! You were fine and just disagreed, and I am happy to discuss it. But people said I was a racist and all other stuff. I have changed my mind now after listening to Trump and I think Obama is perfect.
LOL, GNAT
I definitely don’t remember that thread. I would have had your back, although I’m not sure I’m brave enough to go head-to-head with Pinky! 😉
I don’t know, I tend to lean conservative politically (not in the US, though) and I’ve always found that as long as you can back your arguments up here, people are generally polite.
No. If you disagree with the crowd not only are you be belitted and called a racist you will be banned from the site.
Well, it hasn’t happened to me yet. I’m just disagreeing based on my own experience.
I agree. It’s quite one sided here. Which is fine as long as you’re on that side. I lean pretty left most of the time, but the one thing I’m fairly conservative about is immigration. There is a process for a reason. Is it always totally and completely fair to every person? No. But I don’t think just because you made it over here and haven’t murdered someone you should get amnesty. There are plenty of countries I would love to emigrate to, but I don’t just disrespect the country by going over with no intention of using their laws to gain legal entry.
Truly open borders would be an absolute nightmare.
I’m the same way. Mostly left but conservative when it comes to immigration. I’m all for LEGAL immigration. But illegal? Why should we cater to those who can’t follow our laws? Send them back to their home countries. They can come through the process legally next time, if they want to come back.
I find it incredible that people come here illegally and march in the street for their “rights”, something they don’t bother to do in their country of origin.
This. I came from a third world country and was fortunate enough to become a legal immigrant through my mother’s petition here in the US. 2 of my older brothers were over the age limit so they weren’t able to move here. Their papers have been filed and paid legally. It’s been 10 years already and we’re still waiting for their papers to be processed. They could have just go here in the US for a tourist visa and don’t go back and stay here illegally just like these illegal immigrants are doing / what they did but we all know it’s not the right thing, it’s breaking the law, and we all know they would risk getting deportation. So we don’t recommend doing it. We just have to be patient and wait even if it means missing their birthdays and holidays (airfare tickets are expensive that’s why we can’t afford to fly often). So I don’t feel bad for the illegal immigrants. They broke the law, they know they could risk being deported and they still had children and now they want to be given legal documentations and don’t want to be deported just because they had kids here in America. I’m sorry, but rules are rules. If we can wait for 10 years or for another decade just to have my brothers stay here legally, they should be able to wait too. And don’t start with the: life is hard from where they come from because I came from a third world country and life there was hard too.
I don’t think some of you understand the economic forces that are at play here regarding the mass portion of “illegal immigrants”. There are many, many employers that want them to come here to grossly underpay them. Sure it’s nice if everyone obeyed the laws, but as you say, the laws should apply to everyone not just the easy, defenseless scapegoat.
I think it’s funny that Trump with all his outrageous blustering doesn’t say anything about going after employers that use illegal immigrant labor and seriously prosecuting them. And btw I’m not just referring to nannies, gardeners and some day laborers. I’m also talking about big industries like agriculture, meat packing plants, hotel and restaurant, etc.
I’m an Independent, so I hate both parties. 🙂
However, I have seen Melania in action on HSN or QVC, I forget which, and this was way before Donald was running for president. She was vapid and not very bright, the HSN person handled most of the selling. Now pehaps Melania was having a bad day, or it was her first time doing the show – Mariah Carey’s hosting gigs were painful too – but my opinion of Melania was formed then, and this article did nothing to improve it. Now, Ivana Trump (first wife) was a smart cookie, I could get behind her as First Lady.
Ivana was great. I’m sure Trump probably couldn’t stand that his wife was smarter than he was.
The thing is, for a lot of us this isn’t a strictly political issue, you know?
Here we have a guy with a huge public persona, a guy who is essentially a giant celebrity in his own right, who just happens to be running for president. In other words, a lot of us formed our opinion about Trump many, many years ago and that opinion simply hasn’t changed, regardless of the fact that he’s running a presidential campaign.
What I’m trying to say is that I’ve hated this guy forever and it has little to do with his political persuasion.
(although that certainly doesn’t make me hate him any less)
Well, that’s certainly true. I have thought he was a huge jerk for as long as I can remember.
I agree with you, I knew he was an as*hole without knowing his political stance. Now that he’s “running” for president (I mean why are we still considering him?!) I still think he’s an as*hole, a racist bigoted as*hole.
In print she comes off fine, but in TV interviews she does not come across well which is why she’s rarely on TV more and why the Trump team will have her mostly stick to print interviews.
Her husband is a racist, misogynistic asshat who is one of the big reasons violence against Hispanics, blacks, and Muslims has increased in the past few months. Her husband is fueling hatred against several segments of this population and dividing us even further. You’re damn right nothing she said would make any difference for me.
I liked Laura Bush and the twins (they got flack for doing stuff nearly every teenager does) even though I disliked their husband/father. I liked Cindy McCain who seemed like a smart woman. I liked Ann Romney even though I didn’t vote for her husband. I feel Mitt is a moderate that got forced to to the far right in order to get the nomination. So don’t make this about the fact that she’s a Republican. I dislike her because her husband is a raging, narcissistic jackass and she married him simply to become a U.S. citizen and because he was a billionaire.
Agree 100%.
Nothing like someone calling themselves “TruthTeller” and speaking up for Donald Trump. You don’t have to be Democrat or Republican to think he’s an idiot, just have half a brain and a smidge of self respect.
Actually Bridget, I was referencing Melania Trump. A half-brained idiot would have been able to read my post and make the distinction. But thanks for making my point about the terrible politics on this site.
Is that a stuffed elephant in her apartment? If not, is that a blow up elephant? And in either case, what does the elephant have to do with the interview or his candidacy?
Is that gold leaf all over the apartment?
Did she actually pose in front of the flag? Because she is born… Where exactly, again?
Here is the funny thing – for any other candidate I would like it if they didn’t make their spouse a campaign asset. But I know that in Trump’s case it has nothing to do with maintaining her privacy and independence and everything to do with:
1. She is boring, irrelevant and not particularly smart
2. Republican conservatives are not likely to applaud a man on his third, much younger wife
3. She is not born in the States and if she were next to him at appearances we would remember all these details every time.
Much easier to keep her home supervising the maids and nannies while he warns the rest of America about the evils of foreigners. Who are ok if they are blonde, female, twenty something with a big rack and models.
She is an American citizen so she can pose in front of the flag. I assumed since the GOP symbol is the elephant that is why it was used. Like the democrats have the Donkey. I don’t think at this rate it matters with his audience if she is around or not.
If I am going to have a model with an elephant, it’s gonna be Dovima!
http://ca.phaidon.com/agenda/photography/articles/2014/october/01/photos-that-changed-the-world-4-dovima/
I side eye almost everything about her but I don’t think she should be slammed for posing with the flag, as obnoxious as it is. She is a US citizen now, as much as someone who was born here. My parents are citizens now and the American flag symbol was literally a beacon of hope for them as they escaped Europe during WW2. My dad’s family had a little tiny one from a box of candy that the family would look at when things got really tough, traveling across Europe on foot, living in refugee camps.
I think many people who are born elsewhere and become US citizens often appreciate citizenship and all the privileges it affords even more than some who were actually born here and just take them for granted.
She’s from Slovenia. And a model. I doubt she went trough much hardship being from Slovenia. Also, where did the J from jer name go? She used to be MelaniJa.
I’m not American but this “My dad’s family had a little tiny one from a box of candy that the family would look at when things got really tough,” made me tear up just a little. Also I’m kind of a sap. Whoa, didn’t even realize I got a tree pun in there.
Donnie Trump probably made her drop the ‘J’ in her name because it was too “foreign-sounding”.
Esmom’s comment made me cry as well.
LL, ITA about Mrs Trump not going through hardship or really appreciating the meaning of US citizenship…I was just defending her posing with an American flag.
So, according to Melania, when she met Donald he was with a date but was asking her for her #. Can’t make these things up. Now he’s screaming about Bill Clinton and being a womanizer. Btw, DT’s first wife said he raped her and abused her. I know the democrats are waiting to see if he gets his party nomination. If he does, then they will bring out all the skeletons in his closets and believe me they are many. But not to worry he will just say they are lying. We know his followers will believe him. Good times are coming.
I don’t know who I am voting for yet. But, I don’t see anything wrong or negative about her. If we are comparing apples and oranges, I would rather see her as First Lady than a womanizing First Man Bill Clinton.
Remember what DT said. “I use the laws in this country to my advantage”. I’m sure she was not here legally for a while, but they figured out how to get her on a work permit to stay until she could get her green card. DT used the laws to file for bankruptcy four times scamming the government billions of dollars of tax payers money that he lined his pocket with while thousands od people losing their jobs.he stole millions of dollars from the tax payers of NYC by not paying taxes with “sweet heart” deals. The only person DT is interested in helping is himself and his friends.
DT used the laws to get indentured workers to work in low paying jobs while lining his pockets. No wound he says the minimum wages are to high in this country, he wants to keep the poor, poor and him and his cronies pocket lined. Anything out of DT’s mouth is a lie, as Bernie S says, DT is a pathetical lier and that’s the truth.
…You’d rather have Trump in office than Hilary, because you’d prefer Melania as First Lady? Really? Is this a joke?
I would prefer anyone to Hilary because she has such a difficult time telling the truth. I am tired of lies and need a break.
So you’d rather have Fascist Trump in the White House?
Really? REALLY?
Trump lies. About everything. He even just lied about never having met Samuel L. Jackson, despite the fact that there are photographs all over the place of them playing golf together.
Do you think he will put gold all over the Oval Office?
I don’t know many people that can take off of work and afford to travel to Europe every few months. Shoot when my dad came over here he walked for three days. I asked him what he ate during his trip and he said whatever he could find.
Right, I thought that comment was so obnoxious, like those silly illegals – all you have to do is jet back to your home country every few months, duh. Why can’t they just comply with the rules? it must be lack of character. Ugh.
Why can’t they follow the rules? Everyone else is forced to.
I just read a comment that said she was from Slovenia. NOW I am seriously suspicious of her “I did it legally” claims.
Slovenes are NOT required to have visas for touristic or certain business purposes of less than 90 days. In fact, the U.S. consulate would have seriously side-eyed any Slovene who applied for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa because the very first question the consul would have asked is why the person needed to be in the U.S. for more than 90 days straight. She would have had to apply for a U.S. visa at the consulate ONLY if she needed to study or work in the U.S., and virtually all of the common nonimmigrant visa categories she likely would have wanted would have authorized CBP to give her an I-94 card to remain in the U.S. either indefinitely or for many months straight.
To me, it sounds like Melania did not exactly obey the letter OR the spirit of the visa-free travel law. Under the old Visa Waiver Program (now known as ESTA), people could not come to the U.S. to work full-time for 90 days. The business visitor classification was meant for people coming to the U.S. for meetings or conferences or trade shows or to negotiate contracts or oversee the installation of equipment – not for someone to show up at an office for 40+ hours per week or even to undertake work as an independent contractor (e.g., modeling) for up to 90 days. If I had to bet, I would guess Melania came to the U.S. claiming touristic reasons, got admitted for the full 90 days visa free, did modeling gigs as an independent contractor, got paid in cash or by wire transfer to an overseas bank account, and went home every time before the 90th day. Then she would hang out in Slovenia for a while, book another plane ticket to the U.S., and start the whole process over again. This set of circumstances would definitely explain why she would be travelling back to Europe several times per year. It is odd that she talks about visas being stamped in her passport overseas, but that may be her way of covering up the truth or a misunderstanding by the journalist.
So yeah, Melania, I am going to need to see your passports before I concur that you did EVERYTHING LEGALLY.
everything happened recently in Germany will help Donald trump
That’s absolutely right. Elites in the US, Europe (and even Canada, although Canada was very smart to admit Syrian families and not young single men) are failing to understand that their policies on migration are disliked by many, many ordinary people. The elites don’t have to compete for housing, school places or doctors’ appointments with the migrants or have to deal with the antiquated attitudes towards women, so they don’t understand or care about the complaints of ordinary people. If this continues, I suspect that the UK will vote to leave the EU and there will be other serious consequences.
Wow I hadn’t read any of that…shocking. I cannot believe that. Those poor women…that would be terrifying. It also sounds like officials over there are not taking it seriously enough. Guess no one cares if women are terrified to go out.
Most Americans have the attention span of a gnat. you ask people about this next week and they’ll give you a blank look. If it happened in October (or keeps happening) then yes it might be good for Trump. But as long as it’s not happening here, most Americans don’t give a damn, Sorry but that’s the truth.
This is a terrible situation but I know multiple people who shrugged their shoulders upon hearing this story and said as long as it isn’t happening in America and the flood of refugees don’t come here, they don’t care, let Germany deal with it since they wanted all these immigrants (this was both men and women who said this, which scared me).
Please do not perpetuate that lie. Although there are some dummies, most Americans are not that stupid, especially when our butts are on the line.
Whatever. I think she has a charm and intelligence. Laura Bush was pro-choice, a chain-smoker, and had a filthy mouth in private but she always came out to play the dutiful wife and serious librarian lady to support her husband. Everyone has more than one side.
Teresa Heinz Kerry got a lot of grief during the 2004 campaign about being foreign born, snooty, you name it.
But she was a Democrat, so that’s okay.
Hypocrites.
The problem, I think, is that Trump is being very vocal about foreigners coming to America. And he married 2 non-Americans, and his third wife just “flew back and forth” on her visas in order to stay in America. That’s the hypocrisy.
My country’s First Lady is Muslim and we don’t care, but her husband never made religion the centre point of his campaing.
Democrats aren’t racist, elitist and they most certainly are NOT RICH. Didn’t you know?
Wow- no judgement or elitism there tforce.
“I followed the rules.”
But you got his phone number (because even in your own retelling of a private occurance you still couldn’t quite breeze past a billionaire) So apparently the rules are “If it’s going to help me I find a loophole.”
Frankly that puts you right on the side of the same immigrants you’re pretending to be better than.
@ E side-eye: BINGO!! Use the lawyers to Find the loophole. Use the laws.
Btw, didn’t Laura Bush had a car accident that killed someone.
Yes, she most certainly did.
They all use loopholes. HRC is currently being investigated by the FBI. I’m sure she will probably use loopholes to stay out of jail. Also there are all those donations to the Clinton Foundation from countries that have horrible human/civil rights records. And if we are going to talk about spouses. Bill Clinton was IMPEACHED and has been accused of rape and other sexual misconduct. I think most of the candidates are jokes.
Clinton got impeached because he got a blowjob from someone who wasn’t his wife. By that criteria I’m sure we could have impeached 99% of the past presidents.
@ SloaneY : haha You are probably right. But actually he was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice.
@SloanY
Clinton was impeached because he lied under oath. That’s against the law.
So he lied about getting a blowjob. It’s still impeaching someone for their sexual activities. And last I heard that’s not a requirement for the office.
@ SloaneY : Clinton was being investigated for a couple of charges, I believe one was sexual harassment, and that is when it was discovered he had hooked up with Lewinsky. The affair itself was not the issue, it was lying under oath.
@SloaneY
You’re just wrong. His sleazy sexual activities were not against the law and a blow job is not an impeachable offense.
Yes, he was investigated for other offenses, but in the end, perjury and lying under oath about Lewinsky were the only things they could bring charges against him for. Look it up.
I’m not saying he’s not sleazy. The republican just wanted to impeach him for something thing because they hated him so much and that was all they could get to stick.
So, indirectly, yes, he was impeached for getting blown.
Yes, GNAT, you are “technically correct”. But let’s be real here.
I take lying under oath by the President of the U.S. very seriously, though will give you the part about the search for something to stick. I see what you’re saying.
If we were being real here then you’d stop trying twist the truth to your benefit. Bill Clinton was NOT impeached for getting a blow job. He was impeached for LYING under oath. If he told the truth, then it wouldn’t matter what the opposite party was looking for, he wouldn’t have been impeached.
If he were lying about something directly related to his job I’d be with you. I think my original point was that (I would venture to say) most, if not all of our presidents have some skeletons in their personal closets and if we started impeaching them for lying about what they do with their d***s, then we have to impeach them all.
Somehow I don’t think it was worth $70million for a witch hunt about someone lying about getting serviced under a desk. And if you think he’s the only one that’s ever done that you are out of your mind.
SOCHAN, I did not know that about Laura Bush. God, I love her so much more now…LOL.
To all the Laura Bush fans: Read Curtis Sittenfeld’s “American Wife.” It’s fiction but the main character was informed by Laura. I loved it.
I loved that book, too. It actually didn’t make me like Laura but made me feel a little sorry for W.
Laura Bush is sort of awesome. George did an interview once and he said he was in the doghouse because he made one joke about Laura having to sweep off the white porch, something along those lines and she didn’t let him get away with it. George even said she had liberal views. Have a feeling she has a very strong backbone.
After seeing her naked modeling pictures, I assumed *that* was the reason she was mostly staying out of sight during the campaign.
The pictures don’t bother me, and I don’t think they should matter, but I can’t help but laugh when I imagine the pro-abstinence, anti-sex conservative right clutching their pearls over a potential first lady who had nudes all over the internet.
See, now that actually makes me like her.
Well, good luck staying out of the limelight if Trump’s campaign survives past Iowa and New Hampshire. If he’s going to make Bill Clinton a campaign issue don’t think the Democrats won’t do the same if Trump actually becomes the Republican nominee. I have no idea if she’s got anything shady in her past, but it will come out.
You bet – the Dems likely have a storage facility the size of an airplane hangar full of shady stuff on DT they’re hoarding and will unleash like Pandora’s Box at just the right time.
If she was First Lady, what would be her cause? You can’t be First Lady without one.
So…a blow-up elephant in the foyer??? Just, wow!
It’s for a politically based photo shoot….I don’t think it’s a permanent decor item….
Yes, I know! It was just a quip about the juxtaposition of the gold-plated apartment with a blow-up elephant in the foyer. Guess I should have been clearer.
Just would need so much alcohol to have marital relations with the Donald. I feel so sorry for her in that hideous tacky apartment that all of his wives have lived in.
I would have to be on meth.
I would have to be dead.
That flat made me cringe, as did Melania’s story about citizenship and visas and how she flew back and forth. She followed the rules? I’m sure being married to Trump made those rules easy to follow and circuit around.
I will say this until the end of time – I find it hilarious that Trump is against inmigration when he married 2 inmigrants and he himself is the grandson of one. Those of us born in the American continent are the product of mass inmigration, unless we are descendants of each country’s First Nations.
Thank you!!!! This is why I can’t see why people have a problem with others coming over for a better life, when that’s what our ancestors did! How is it ok for us but not them?
I know, the issue is not that simple but still!
Maybe it’s not that simple, but the point being made by Cee is one that is all-too-often overlooked by his supporters.
I’m pretty sure she’s given previous interviews stating he had to wear her down with harassment before she agreed to go out with him.
Think he has said this as well….
Honestly, it doesn’t sound like she took a “shortcut” with the visa process. My husband was here on a work visa for years and yeah, he had to fly back to Europe every so often to get his passport stamped. That’s how it works if you are here on a work visa! Hopefully whatever job you are getting is paying you enough that it’s worth your while to deal with the back and forth.
When we got married we applied for a spousal greencard and the whole process took about 3 months. No lawyer, no special perks. I will admit that we had the privilege of being a well-educated, English speaking couple who had the time/motivation to sit down and go through the application line by line (and the education level to actually understand some of the legalese), but really, she did not (it sounds like) somehow circumvent or shortcut the visa process anymore than a lot of average middle or upper middle class people do.
And money obviously doesn’t mean good taste….gawd no!
I find it funny when Trump supporters scream and shout about how easy it is to “just follow the rules” when they have a) never applied for a visa/citizenship to another country and b) couldn’t pass a US citizenship test if their lives depended on it. They’re also the ones who brag about their ancestors who “came to this country legally.” As in, back when the only requirement for entry was not hacking up a lung when you stepped off the boat.
I’m not saying immigration should be a cake-walk, but it seems that immigration laws have become so complex and time-consuming that it does push otherwise law-abiding people to desperate measures. It’s like, in an effort to stem illegal immigration they’ve created more illegal immigrants.
It’s not so much that the immigration process is complex (I mean, it is, but it’s not any more complex than filing your taxes), it’s that the US DOES have a maximum number of visas they grant each year, and it’s split up by country. So if you live in a country where there isn’t a huge amount of interest in moving to the US (say, a relatively stable European country), it’s not too hard to get a visa (greencard is a whole other story, unless you marry a citizen or have an employer sponsor you). If you live in a country with a lot of demand to move to the US (so, for example, Mexico), you can be waiting for YEARS to get a visa because there are only a certain amount given out each year and the demand always outstrips the supply. Understandably, people get sick of waiting and try to enter without documentation instead. Ultimately I would say the root problem here is not so much that the US needs to let in more people from those countries (although that could be part of a solution), but there needs to be some consideration of WHY those countries are currently such unpleasant places to live, and the US should definitely consider working with countries where there is a lot of visa demand to make them more stable and economically successful. Entering the US through the desert at the Mexican border is NOT a safe or pleasant or cheap process. You have to be pretty desperate to risk it.
You are the first person I have ever heard of who legal status took 3 months. I have known people waiting for years just to get an interview even when they are being sponsored by Natural born citizen. Not to talk about the cost to file for the application. I’m still thinking she got strings pulled for her.
Btw, I thought after receiving your green card the applicant had to wait five to seven years before they can apply for citizenship. According to ml she received her Green Card and then applied for Citizenship, I think that she is saying to get Citizenship was very easy. I wish it was easy for most law abiding people.
To be clear, the process for getting a greencard for my husband took 3 months, but he was already in the US on a work visa, so probably a pretty similar situation to Melania and Donald (gah, it makes me cringe that I have anything in common with the Trumps!). In my husband’s case, he initially came to the US on a student visa (fairly straightforward, according to him…we hadn’t met at the time so I’ll take his word for it). When he finished school an American company offered him a job and was willing to sponsor him for a temporary work visa. Their lawyers did handle that paperwork and I’m sure it cost them plenty but it was a highly skilled position so it was worth their while to do so. When we got married, we decided it would be easier to get him a greencard as my spouse than to wait for his company to file the paperwork, etc (they were supposed to be sponsoring him for a greencard but totally dragged their feet on it). We got married, sent in the application, and 3 months later—greencard. I know other couples who have had comparable experiences. Getting into the US in the first place CAN be difficult, especially if you are coming from a country where a lot of people want to get in. But once you are in, if you are here legally and marry a US citizen, it is actually pretty simple to get a greencard.
The application fees are high and it does annoy me that we paid something on the order of $2k basically because we got sick of his employer dicking us around, BUT…it is permanent residence. If he lives here for 20 years (totally possible, we like the US), he’ll have paid about $100/yr for the ability to live in the US without having to constantly renew a visa or worry about getting kicked out if he loses his job. That gives him SO much more flexibility to do things like change jobs and increase his income, and gives us, as a couple, a lot more flexibility to move around the country, etc. I don’t want to say the fee is “nothing”, but for what you get in exchange (ability to live in a country that frankly, DOES provide great opportunities and freedoms despite the efforts of numbskull GOP politicians to drive it into the ground) I’d say it’s not excessive. It’s a hell of a lot less than what people pay to coyotes or smugglers to get in without documentation.
I believe it’s now 3 years for citizenship. Incidentally, I am a naturalized US citizen, and once I had met the residency requirements, it took me less than a year to transition from greencard to citizenship. The US immigration system is, in many ways, in need of improvement, and I will say I was treated like crap by some individual gov’t employees, but it has improved a LOT relative to where it was 20+ years ago.
It took me 7 months to receive my American fiancé’s visa (from Canada). My green card was then granted 6 months later. 5 years after that, I was eligible for US citizenship. The process was expensive and time consuming but for us it was worth it (it made more sense for me to move to the US than for my husband to move to Canada work wise).
They require many interviews, health screenings, documentation submission etc but I would expect nothing less when it comes to something as serious as immigration.
I just want to thank you all for your brilliant, insightful, informative and insanely funny posts. Here I am, trying to come to terms with my recently -diagnosed, very painful and life-changing diagnosis of an auto-immune inflammatory condition. The doctor has prescribed antidepressants, on top of multiple other medications, which I refuse to take. I’m in pain, pissed-off and frustrated, but not depressed. The points to ponder and the giggles and guffaws your comments have given me this morning, have cheered me up no end. Laughter – it’s good medicine. Thanks again!
I wish you the best.
Best of luck and good health. I have been in that boat for a long time (9 years) and meds can make it worse, some can make it better… There is no one correct answer, unfortunately.
I have been in that boat. If you feel you need the AD then take them, but if you don’t, DON’T!. Being in pain and frustrated is not a mental illness. They are normal human emotions, especially when dealing with something as you are.
Can relate to your situation and the benefit of this site. I have Lupus 🙁
I bet Melania loves $$$$$ Donald! Lol
He wanted my number, but he was with a date, so of course I didn’t give it to him. I said, ‘I am not giving you my number; you give me yours, and I will call you.’
Gotta love Trump’s priorities. Give this man an award.
Hey I admire her for doing it right with her citizenship. Being rich means nothing if you don’t do things the right way and mess with the law.