WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump has floated a new idea—scrapping the EB-5 immigrant investor visa and replacing it with a “gold card” that costs a cool $5 million. This premium visa would grant green card privileges and offer a direct route to U.S. citizenship.
Trump announced the plan from the Oval Office, saying, “Wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card. They’ll be spending money, paying taxes, and creating jobs.” While the finer details will be revealed in two weeks, the concept is clear—attracting affluent investors willing to pay for a fast track to U.S. residency.
The existing EB-5 program, introduced in 1992, grants green cards to foreign investors who commit at least $1,050,000 (or $800,000 in economically distressed areas) and create at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers. In contrast, Trump’s gold card would simply require a $5 million payment to the U.S. government.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has supported the idea, calling the EB-5 program “underpriced” and suggesting that the gold card ensures only “world-class global citizens” gain entry. However, he clarified that applicants will still undergo a vetting process.
When asked whether Russian oligarchs could qualify for the gold card, Trump quipped, “Yeah, possibly. Hey, I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.”
If implemented, this new program could redefine how the U.S. attracts wealthy immigrants, making it a straightforward—albeit pricey—ticket to citizenship.
