Trump Unveils ‘Gold Card’ Visa Program for Wealthy Immigrants

The program, which is set to launch in two weeks, will provide lawful permanent residency as a direct route to citizenship for high-net-worth individuals. Trump framed the initiative as a revenue-generating strategy that would attract successful individuals who would spend money and pay high taxes, helping to reduce the national deficit.

Replacing the EB-5 Visa

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the gold card as a replacement for the EB-5 immigrant investor visa, which currently grants residency to foreigners who invest at least $1.05 million in U.S. businesses—or $800,000 in areas of high unemployment or rural development. Lutnick criticized the EB-5 program as being rife with fraud and promised that gold card applicants would undergo strict vetting.

Who Can Apply?

When asked if Russian oligarchs could obtain gold cards, Trump jokingly responded, “Yeah, possibly. Hey, I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.” The remark has already sparked debates about who exactly this program is designed to benefit. While critics argue that the gold card essentially puts U.S. citizenship up for sale, supporters see it as a pragmatic move to attract affluent investors and boost the economy.

See more in: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/25/nx-s1-5308649/trump-green-card-gold-card-immigration