Trump introduces $1 million “Gold Card” for expedited U.S. residency

In a significant move impacting U.S. immigration policy, President Donald Trump has officially signed an executive order to introduce what’s being dubbed the “Trump Gold Card” program. This new initiative offers a fast-tracked path to U.S. residency for foreigners, provided they can invest $1 million. The White House website has formally published the executive order outlining these changes.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick clarified that this “gold card” is intended to supersede the current EB-1 and EB-2 visa programs, specifically targeting individuals deemed to be of exceptional value to the United States. Lutnick was quite candid about the administration’s new approach, telling reporters, as quoted by Politico, “We have been taking people from the bottom quartile. We will stop doing that. We will only accept outstanding people from the very top, not those who try to take jobs away from Americans.”

According to Lutnick, the U.S. administration initially aims to issue 80,000 of these “gold cards.” However, he indicated that this model would be continuously evaluated, with the potential to eventually phase out other existing visa programs.

Mr. Lutnick further explained that the “gold card” operates on a principle similar to the traditional Green Card. Individuals seeking this expedited residency will need to contribute $1 million. For companies looking to sponsor a foreign employee for the “gold card,” the cost will be higher, set at $2 million, along with an additional $15,000 fee.

Intriguingly, the trumpcard.gov website also features details about “The Trump Platinum Card,” which comes with a much steeper price tag of $5 million. While this ultra-premium option is not yet available for acquisition, interested parties are able to reserve a spot on a waiting list.