President Donald Trump has officially launched the “Trump Gold Card” visa program, a new initiative designed to attract wealthy foreign individuals by offering an accelerated path to US residency and eventually citizenship.
Announced by Trump on social media, the scheme is aimed at ensuring “Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable Talent.” The program’s official website states that the Gold Card is awarded to those who can demonstrate they will provide a “substantial benefit” to the country.
“Trump Gold Card”: Key program details
Cost and Eligibility: The standard Gold Card requires a minimum payment of $1 million, which serves as evidence of the applicant’s substantial benefit to the US.
Business Sponsorship: Companies sponsoring employees must pay a fee of $2 million, plus additional charges.
The Platinum Card: A premium “platinum” version, offering special tax breaks, is slated for release soon with a $5 million price tag.
Fees: All applicants must pay a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee before their application is even reviewed, with potential extra government fees depending on individual circumstances.
The Promise: The program promises US residency in “record time” and a “direct path to Citizenship.”
The President emphasized that the Gold Card is targeted specifically at “high-level” and “productive” professionals, contrasting it with the traditional Green Card, which is open to individuals of all income levels.
Trump maintains that the scheme is a “bargain” that will “sell like crazy,” arguing that individuals who can pay $5 million “are going to create jobs.”
Trump’s immigration policy
The launch comes amid the Trump administration’s broader, restrictive immigration agenda, which has included:
- Intensified deportation efforts for undocumented migrants
- Raising various work visa fees (such as the $100,000 fee for new, overseas H-1B applicants)
- Halting asylum application decisions and reviewing previously approved cases from the Biden administration
- Pausing immigration from 19 countries, primarily in Africa and the Middle East, affected by the travel ban
The Gold Card scheme, initially announced in February, has already drawn criticism from some Democrats who argue that it unfairly favors the wealthy.
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