Elon Musk denies having ever worked illegally in the U.S., but his explanations have not entirely cleared up questions about his immigration journey.
Musk, the world's richest man with an estimated fortune of over $270 billion, rarely discusses his path from a child born in South Africa to an American tech billionaire. However, over the weekend, he revealed some details in a series of social media posts.
His comments came after a Washington Post report claimed that Musk had worked illegally when he first started his career in the U.S. while building a startup in Silicon Valley in the 1990s. During a campaign rally on October 26, President Joe Biden referenced the report, joking that Musk was once an "illegal worker" in the U.S., while now holding an anti-immigration stance. Musk responded on X, calling Biden a liar and asserting that he was legally allowed to work in the U.S.
Musk explained that he held both a J-1 visa and later an H-1B visa. However, experts pointed out several gaps in his explanation, particularly surrounding how and when he obtained these visas, and which organization sponsored his J-1 visa.
While it is possible to convert a J-1 visa to an H-1B, experts noted that working on a J-1 visa without completing an academic program would have been illegal. Musk has admitted to leaving Stanford University early to start his first company, raising questions about his visa status at that time.
Musk's immigration story has resurfaced amid his vocal support for former President Donald Trump and his criticism of illegal immigration in the U.S., a hot issue in this year's election. Despite his own complicated immigration history, Musk has continued to shape conversations on immigration through the platform X, which he acquired in 2022.
(According to CNN, Washington Post, Fortune)
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