Melania Trump was reportedly paid for modeling jobs before obtaining the proper documentation to work legally in the United States in 1996 – contradicting her earlier claims that she went through appropriate channels upon her arrival to the country.

The report came during the final days of a heated presidential election where her husband, Republican nominee Donald Trump, has campaigned on a hardline stance against undocumented immigrants. Ms Trump herself delivered her second high-profile speech about her immigration to the US on Thursday night.

Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Show all 15 1 /15 Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Who are famous people voting for in the US election? George Clooney HILLARY CLINTON Getty Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Leonardo DiCaprio HILLARY CLINTON Getty Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Mike Tyson DONALD TRUMP Getty Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Beyonce HILLARY CLINTON Rex Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Chloe Grace Moretz HILLARY CLINTON Vivien Killilea/Getty Images Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Sarah Jessica Parker HILLARY CLINTON Getty Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Jon Voight DONALD TRUMP Getty Images Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Katy Perry HILLARY CLINTON Getty Images Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Jennifer Lopez HILLARY CLINTON Angela Weiss/Getty Images Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Denis Rodman DONALD TRUMP TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP/Getty Images Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Salma Hayek HILLARY CLINTON Getty Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Le Bron James HILLARY CLINTON Justin Carissimo Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Hulk Hogan DONALD TRUMP Reuters Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Kid Rock DONALD TRUMP Theo Wargo/Getty Images Who are famous people voting for in the US election? Stacey Dash DONALD TRUMP Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The Associated Press based its findings on accounting ledgers, contracts, and other related documents from two decades ago.

Ms Trump arrived in the US on 16 August, 1996 on a B1/B2 visitor visa, as she has disclosed through a lawyer, and received her H1-B work visa on 18 October 1996. However, between that time, the AP says she earned $20,056 for 10 modeling jobs.

Loading....

The payments would have fallen outside of what her initial visa would have authorised.

The AP obtained a management from the now-defunct Metropolitan International Management included a handwritten date of 27 August 1996. Another line on the document said it was “made and entered into as of this 4th day of September 1996”.

The glaring irony of Melania Trump's social media bullying speech

Paolo Zampolli, a former partner of the modeling firm, had previously told the AP that he was involved in the recruitment of Ms Trump from Slovenia, but believed she had a proper work visa.

Still, he confirmed that the language on the documents was consistent with the language used by his firm at the time. He maintained that he was not specifically aware of Ms Trump’s legal status at the time.

“Honestly, I don’t know. It’s like 20 years ago,” he said. “The contract looks [like] a real one and the standard one.”

The report appears to contradict the assertion that Ms Trump was “at all times in compliance with the immigration laws of this country” made by Mr Trump, after receiving questions about his wife’s immigration narrative.

With only five days left until the election, Ms Trump had taken a more visible role in advocating for her husband on the campaign trail. During her Thursday speech she reiterated her immigration story, the time she spent as a model Europe, and her ultimate move to the US.

“As a young entrepreneur, I wanted to follow my dream to a place where freedom and opportunity were in abundance. So, of course, I came here,” she recalled. “Living and working in America was a true blessing, but I wanted something more. I wanted to be an American.”