U.S. Golden Visa: The Trump Gold Card offers U.S. Citizenship to Wealthy Foreigners

The U.S. Golden Visa program is about to undergo significant changes, following a new announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump. President Trump has introduced a new visa initiative, the ‘Trump Gold Card’, which would grant foreign investors a path to U.S. citizenship in exchange for a $5 million investment. This proposal aims to replace the long-standing EB-5 visa program, which has been in place since 1990.

Under the existing EB-5 visa, foreign nationals must invest approximately $1 million into a U.S. business that creates at least 10 jobs. However, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explained that Trump’s new plan raises the financial requirement from $1 million to $5 million while also aiming to reduce fraud and bureaucratic hurdles associated with the current system.

Trump promoted the economic advantages of the proposal, arguing that it would bring in affluent individuals who would contribute to the U.S. economy through spending, taxes, and potential job creation. He even suggested that issuing 10 million visas under this program could significantly reduce the national deficit and, consequently, the national debt.

President Trump believes that “selling a gold card” at a cost of $5 million will attract wealthy immigrants to the United States, including Russian oligarchs, who want to get all the privileges of a green card and a simpler route to US citizenship.

Unlike the EB-5 visa, the ‘Trump Gold Card’ does not specifically require investors to generate new jobs. This aspect has raised concerns among critics, as job creation has been a major component of the current investor visa program. Critics worry that the new system won’t help American workers and is only designed to benefit the wealthy.

Typically, Congress determines citizenship qualifications, but Trump claims his new program would not require congressional approval. 

Investor visa programs are common worldwide. Countries like Canada, the UK, and Australia offer similar Golden Visa options to attract wealthy applicants. While the U.S. has traditionally placed limits on these types of visas, Trump’s plan suggests a more unreserved approach in the future. Trump plans to push forward with his plan to streamline the process for wealthy individuals to gain U.S. citizenship, regardless of any criticisms.