“Citizenship for $5 Million” Trump Introduce ‘Gold Card’ Residency Plan for Immigrants
President Donald Trump announced a bold new immigration plan on Tuesday, introducing a “gold card” visa that offers a path to U.S. citizenship for a hefty $5 million. This move replaces the decades-old EB-5 investor visa program, aiming to attract rich and successful foreigners to boost the American economy.
“They’ll be wealthy and successful, spending lots of money, paying taxes, and creating jobs,” Trump said from the Oval Office. He believes this “Trump Gold Card” will be a huge success, bringing in high rollers ready to invest in the U.S.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explained that the gold card, essentially a green card for permanent residency, will roll out in just two weeks. Unlike the EB-5 visa—started in 1990 to encourage foreign investment with a $1 million minimum—the new plan raises the stakes. Lutnick criticized the old program as riddled with “fraud and nonsense,” promising a cleaner, pricier alternative.
The EB-5 visa required investors to fund businesses that create at least 10 U.S. jobs. In contrast, Trump didn’t mention job creation rules for the gold card, focusing instead on its appeal to the ultra-wealthy. He even suggested selling 10 million of these visas to slash the national deficit, calling it “great, maybe fantastic.”
ALSO READ | Maha Kumbh Ends with Maha Shivratri Today, Devotees Takes last ‘Amrit Snan’
This isn’t a new idea globally—over 100 countries, like the UK, Canada, and Australia, offer “golden visas” to rich investors, according to Henley & Partners. In the U.S., about 8,000 people snagged EB-5 visas in the year ending September 2022, per Homeland Security data. However, a 2021 Congressional report flagged fraud risks, like unverified funds, in the program.
Trump pitched the gold card as “a green card with sophistication,” targeting wealthy individuals and talented people backed by companies willing to pay. While Congress sets citizenship rules, Trump claims this plan doesn’t need their approval.
Details are still unfolding, but the $5 million price tag and citizenship promise have sparked buzz. Will it reshape U.S. immigration or just line government coffers? Stay tuned as this flashy initiative takes shape.
