What is Trump’s ‘Gold Card’ for immigrants? All about the $5 million ‘pathway to US citizenship’
Trump’s ‘Gold Card’ for Immigrants
US President Donald Trump has proposed a new immigration program called the “Gold Card,” which aims to offer a pathway to US citizenship for wealthy immigrants.
Cost: The Gold Card will cost approximately $5 million per applicant.
Replacement for EB-5: The program is intended to replace the existing EB-5 immigrant investor visa program, which requires a minimum investment of about $1 million in a business that creates at least 10 jobs.
Benefits: The Gold Card offers green card privileges plus a route to US citizenship, targeting wealthy and successful individuals who will contribute significantly to the economy by spending money, paying taxes, and potentially creating jobs.
Launch and Eligibility: The program is expected to launch within two weeks, with no specific job creation requirement mentioned, unlike the EB-5 program. It is open to wealthy individuals worldwide, including potentially Russian oligarchs.
Economic Impact: Trump believes the program could help reduce the national debt by selling up to 10 million Gold Cards.
Criticism: Critics argue that the program sidelines skilled workers stuck in green card backlogs and favors the wealthy, creating an “elitist” pathway to citizenship.
Similar Programs: Many countries offer “golden visas” to attract wealthy investors, but the US proposal is distinct in its high investment requirement and potential scale.
