US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the launch of the long-promised “Trump Gold Card,” a visa program offering legal status and a pathway to US citizenship. The initiative allows individuals to qualify by investing USD 1 million, while corporations can participate by paying twice that amount per foreign-born employee.Applications for the Gold Card citizenship scheme opened the same day, the US president said.
“THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT’S TRUMP GOLD CARD IS HERE TODAY! A direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people. SO EXCITING! Our Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable Talent. Live Site opens in 30 minutes!” Trump said through a post on Truth Social. The official website, Trumpcard.gov, features an “Apply Now” option, enabling applicants to pay a $15,000 processing fee to the US Department of Homeland Security for expedited review, as cited by Reuters.Following a background check and vetting process, applicants are required to make a $1 million “contribution,” referred to on the website as a “gift,” to obtain the visa, similar to a Green Card, that grants them the right to live and work in the United States.“Basically, it’s a Green Card, but much better. Much more powerful, a much stronger path,” Trump told reporters. “A path is a big deal. Have to be great people.”Trump said the Gold Card visas hold the same privileges as a green card, but they are not the same as an H-1B visa, which allows employers to hire non-US citizens for highly skilled jobs temporarily.The visas are valid for three years and can be extended once for a total of six years. Recipients must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in a field related to their specialty.
What is a ‘Green Card’?
A Green Card, officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, allows its holder to live and work permanently in the United States. Traditionally, Green Card holders could travel freely in and out of the country without facing the same scrutiny as other foreign nationals. However, recent changes in border enforcement have altered this, with even minor criminal records now subjecting holders to heightened inspections at US ports of entry.Green Card holders enjoy several privileges, including eligibility for Social Security, Medicare, college financial aid, and military service. They may also apply for US citizenship after five years of residency, or three years if married to a US citizen, provided they spend at least 913 days within the United States during that period.Last week, the Trump administration ordered a re-evaluation of all Green Cards issued during the Biden administration to nationals of 19 countries of concern. In addition, all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration from these countries will undergo a fresh review. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has also announced an immediate suspension of all pending asylum requests pending a comprehensive assessment.Officials have clarified that this policy is not targeted at any specific nation and will apply to all asylum applications. Under US law, an individual may seek asylum if they can prove a credible fear of persecution in their home country.
How is the ‘Gold Card’ visa different from the Green Card?
Meanwhile, the “Gold Card” visa offers Green Card privileges and a pathway to US citizenship in exchange for a $5 million fee, positioning it as a premium residency option for high-net-worth individuals. Unlike the traditional EB-5 investor visa, which requires a $800,000 to $1.05 million investment in a business that creates at least 10 US jobs, the Gold Card imposes no job creation requirement. It is also being positioned as a replacement for the EB-5 programme.The initiative builds on the investor-visa framework established under Executive Order 14351 in September, which introduced a three-tier system: the Trump Gold Card, Trump Corporate Gold Card, and Trump Platinum Card. Each tier is designed to attract significant capital to the United States while offering expedited processing and a faster route to permanent residency.Under the individual tier, applicants must make a non-refundable USD 1 million “gift” and pay a USD 15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as cited by ANI.Employers seeking quicker Green Cards for essential or highly skilled workers can opt for the Corporate Gold Card, which requires a USD 2 million payment plus the DHS fee. This corporate tier may be transferred between employees, subject to a 5 per cent transfer fee and a DHS background check.The highest tier, the Trump Platinum Card, requires a USD 5 million contribution and the same USD 15,000 processing fee. It also allows cardholders to spend up to 270 days a year in the United States without being taxed on foreign income, offering an additional incentive for global investors.Across all tiers, smaller fees to the US Department of State may apply, and processing fees are non-refundable. After an application and payments are submitted, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) carries out a full background review of the applicant and any included family members. Successful applicants are then issued a Green Card granting permanent residency in the United States.The launch of the programme comes as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. The Gold Card initiative has drawn sharp criticism for appearing to contradict the United States’ longstanding image as a refuge for the hardworking poor. Trump has defended the scheme, saying proceeds will go into “an account where we can do things positive for the country” and predicting it will generate “many billions of dollars,” as cited by the Guardian.
