Trump Launches Gold Card Scheme for Wealthy Foreigners Offering Fast-Tracked US Visas
Former President Donald Trump has launched the Gold Card scheme, a program offering fast-tracked U.S. visas to wealthy foreigners who pay at least $1 million. According to the scheme’s official website, the Gold Card promises residency and a direct path to citizenship for qualified and vetted applicants.
The program, first announced earlier in the year, awards visas to those who demonstrate a substantial benefit to the United States. The Gold Card requires a $1 million applicant fee, $2 million for businesses sponsoring employees, and a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee. A platinum version of the card, available soon for $5 million, will offer additional tax breaks. Extra government fees may also be charged depending on the applicant’s circumstances.
Trump described the visas as similar to green cards but emphasized that the Gold Card targets high-level professionals and focuses on productivity and job creation. This initiative comes amid a broader immigration crackdown, which includes higher work visa fees, increased deportations, the pausing of applications from countries under the travel ban, and reviews of Biden-era asylum decisions.
In September, Trump signed an order to impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applicants, though the White House later clarified this applies only to new applicants applying from abroad. Democrats have criticized the Gold Card scheme as unfairly privileging wealthy individuals.
