On December 10, U.S. President Donald Trump officially launched the long-promised "Trump Gold Card" — a special visa program. This revolutionary initiative offers legal status and a pathway to citizenship in the United States for individuals paying $1 million in fees, as well as for corporations paying $2 million per foreign employee.
A New Path for Top Talent
President Trump believes this new visa program will attract the best global talent to the United States while generating significant revenue for the federal treasury. He has actively promoted the "Gold Card" initiative for several months.
According to officials cited by The Associated Press, all funds collected under the program will "go to the U.S. government" and are expected to bring billions of dollars into accounts managed by the Department of the Treasury.
Trump stated: "This, essentially, is a Green Card, but much better. A much stronger and more powerful way."
Application Process and Security Checks
A dedicated website, Trumpcard.gov, has been launched for Gold Card applications. Applicants are required to pay a non-refundable processing fee of $15,000 to submit their applications.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick noted that the program will conduct thorough "background checks" on applicants to ensure their absolute eligibility to stay in the United States.
Once applicants are approved by the Department of Homeland Security, they must proceed with the primary $1 million payment. Afterward, they will "obtain U.S. residency in record time" and secure legal permanent resident status.
Commerce Secretary Lutnick highlighted that nearly 10,000 people have already expressed interest in the program during its pre-registration phase and added, "Over time, we will be selling thousands of cards... raising billions and billions of dollars."
Platinum and Corporate Cards
The New York Times reported additional details about the "Platinum Card" on the program’s website. This card, available for a $5 million fee, allows foreign nationals to stay in the United States for up to 270 days a year and exempts them from paying taxes on foreign-earned income.
In addition, a corporate version of the Gold Card program is available, allowing companies to obtain cards for $2 million per foreign employee they wish to employ in the U.S. Trump stated that this program would help retain the best graduates of U.S. universities within the country.
According to Trump, business leaders have struggled to hire "the best graduates from U.S. universities" because they lack permits to remain in the country.
"You cannot hire the best graduates because you are unsure if you can keep that person," Trump remarked.
He emphasized that the program would bring "great people" to the United States, stating, "These will be extraordinary individuals." Trump specifically mentioned students from China, India, and France who have studied at leading American universities as potential recipients of the Gold Card. "Companies will be very happy," he added.
Criticism and Political Implications
Reuters described the Gold Card program as Trump’s counter-initiative to the White House’s broader immigration policies. Some Democrats and immigrant rights advocates criticized the program as creating "privileges for the wealthy" and have vehemently opposed it.
The president’s strict immigration policies have intensified, with widespread deportations and large-scale immigration raids continuing.
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