NEW DELHI: President Donald Trump has unveiled a new plan to facilitate affluent foreigners’ acquisition of U.S. citizenship through the use of a “Gold Card” visa. The $5 million visa will provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship and green card permanent status. According to Trump, one million of these gold cards will be sold, bringing in a substantial sum of money for the U.S. government.
JUST IN: President Trump announces a new immigration “Gold Card” that will be sold to immigrants for $5 million.
The Gold Card is a premium version of a Green Card, according to Trump, and will provide immigrants with a pathway to citizenship.
“We’re gonna be selling a gold… pic.twitter.com/U3Bx3Nogfd
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 25, 2025
“We are going to be selling a gold card…We are going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million,” Trump stated. He emphasized that the gold card would provide green card privileges and a route to American citizenship, attracting wealthy individuals to the country. “It’s going to give you green card privileges plus it’s going to be a route to (American) citizenship, and wealthy people would be coming into our country by buying this card,” he added.
When asked if Russian oligarchs would be eligible for the scheme, Trump responded, “Yeah, possibly. Hey. I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.”
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Replacement of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
The gold card visa is set to replace the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which requires a minimum investment of $800,000 to $1.05 million in a U.S. business that creates at least ten jobs. The EB-5 program has been criticized for fraud and inefficiencies, prompting the introduction of the gold card visa as a more stringent alternative.
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Impact and Concerns Among Indians
The gold card visa offers Indian nationals both advantages and disadvantages. Although it provides a quicker and easier path to U.S. residency than the EB-5 visa or the H-1B to green card process, only the very affluent can afford it due to its $5 million price tag. Many Indian investors who previously depended on the EB-5 program as a more cost-effective choice may be excluded as a result of this change.
The hefty cost of the gold card visa may further marginalize skilled professionals who already face lengthy wait times, which is why Trump’s plan has alarmed Indian candidates awaiting green cards. The gold card visa, on the other hand, might be revolutionary for India’s wealthiest citizens, offering a quicker route to U.S. residency.
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Differences Between Gold Card Visa and Green Card
The Gold Card Visa’s application process is different from that of the conventional Green Card. A green card can usually be obtained through employment, family sponsorship, or the Diversity Visa Lottery, while a gold card requires a substantial financial investment. The goal of this new visa is to attract wealthy individuals who can make significant contributions to the U.S. economy.
As the Trump administration finalizes the program’s implementation, further information regarding the gold card visa system is expected to be made public in the coming weeks. The impact of this new visa on the U.S. immigration landscape and its potential benefits for wealthy investors will be closely watched.