United States President Donald Trump has introduced a new residency program allowing foreigners to obtain a “gold visa” for $5 million, offering them a pathway to U.S. citizenship. The initiative, announced on February 25, 2025, in the Oval Office, is set to replace the existing EB-5 immigrant investor visa.
Trump and his administration claim that the new program will attract high-net-worth individuals while eliminating fraud concerns associated with the EB-5 visa. However, the plan has sparked debate due to its exclusivity and potential political implications.
Under Trump’s new immigration proposal, wealthy foreign individuals can obtain U.S. residency through a $5 million investment. Trump referred to it as an upgrade from the green card, stating, “You have a green card, this is a gold card.” Unlike the EB-5 visa, which required a minimum investment of $1 million in a U.S.-based business employing at least ten workers, the new gold visa appears to have no job-creation requirement.
The administration has framed the gold visa as an effort to attract “world-class global citizens” while addressing concerns of fraud and abuse within the EB-5 system. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick criticized the EB-5 visa as being “full of nonsense” and “a low-price way to get a green card.” The government is also promoting the gold visa as a revenue-generating measure, with Trump hinting at selling up to 10 million visas to help reduce the national deficit.
Who is Eligible?
The gold visa program will be available to individuals with significant financial resources, but specific criteria beyond the monetary requirement remain unclear. While Trump assured that all applicants would be “thoroughly vetted,” he did not outline the process for selection or any additional qualifications.
When asked whether wealthy Russians could qualify, Trump responded, “Possibly. I know some Russian oligarchs who are very nice people.” His statement has fueled concerns about potential favoritism or security risks associated with the program.
Cost and Benefits
At $5 million per application, the U.S. gold visa will be one of the most expensive residency programs worldwide. Many countries, including Spain, Portugal, and Greece, offer golden visas for significantly lower investments, typically ranging from Read More….
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