President Donald Trump on Wednesday officially launched a controversial new immigration initiative known as the “Trump Gold Card” visa, a high-cost pathway designed to fast-track legal residency in the United States for wealthy foreigners.
Under the programme, interested individuals must first submit an application and pay a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which covers administrative costs and begins a rigorous background check process. Once vetted and approved, applicants are required to make a $1 million contribution—described by officials as a “gift” to the U.S. government—to receive U.S. lawful permanent resident status, a benefit similar to the traditional Green Card but marketed as an expedited alternative.
The scheme also includes a corporate version, under which companies can sponsor foreign workers for a $2 million fee per employee. Firms that participate may face additional charges, including a 1% annual maintenance fee and a 5% transfer fee should they reassign the visa to another employee in the future.
Officials say recipients of the Gold Card will undergo thorough vetting by DHS and, after holding permanent residency, may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship after five years of compliance with immigration laws. Trump and his administration have framed the initiative as a way to attract global talent, support U.S. businesses, and generate significant revenue for federal coffers—potentially in the billions of dollars.
The programme replaces and streamlines aspects of the older EB-5 investor visa system, which previously required foreign investors to spend around $1 million on job-creating projects in the U.S. Critics of the new Gold Card say its reliance on financial contributions rather than traditional investment and job creation may raise legal questions and widen disparities in the U.S. immigration system.
A dedicated application site, trumpcard.gov, went live concurrent with the programme’s rollout, allowing prospective applicants to begin the process immediately. The initiative reflects the Trump administration’s broader push to reshape U.S. immigration policy around economic leverage and selective talent attraction.
