President Donald Trump has unveiled a new immigration scheme offering accelerated US visas to wealthy foreigners willing to pay at least $1 million for entry.
Announcing the initiative on social media, Trump said the new Trump Gold Card would provide a “direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people,” adding that it would help American companies retain “invaluable Talent”.
According to the programme’s official website, the Gold Card is designed for individuals who can deliver a “substantial benefit” to the United States.
The launch comes amid Washington’s intensified immigration crackdown, including higher work visa fees and expanded deportation efforts targeting undocumented migrants.
Under the scheme, applicants must pay a $1 million fee, which the programme describes as proof that the individual will contribute significantly to the US.
Businesses seeking to sponsor employees must pay $2 million, while a forthcoming “platinum” version costing $5 million will offer special tax incentives.
Applicants may face additional government fees depending on their circumstances and must pay a non refundable $15,000 processing fee before their application is evaluated.
The programme has attracted criticism since its announcement, with opponents arguing that it unfairly prioritises wealthy individuals.
When first promoting the idea, Trump compared the Gold Card to a green card, which allows immigrants of various income levels to live and work permanently in the US. Green card holders generally become eligible for citizenship after five years.
However, Trump emphasised that the Gold Card specifically targets “high level professionals,” stating, “we want people that are productive.”
“The people that can pay $5 million, they’re going to create jobs,” he said. “It’s going to sell like crazy. It’s a bargain.”
The rollout follows aggressive immigration enforcement measures by the administration, including the suspension of applications from citizens of 19 countries under the travel ban, most of which are in Africa and the Middle East.
Additionally, the government has stopped processing asylum decisions and plans to review thousands of cases approved under the Biden administration.
In September, Trump also signed an order introducing a $100,000 fee for applicants to the H 1B skilled worker visa programme.
The announcement sparked concern among international students and tech industry leaders, prompting a later clarification that the fee applies only to new applicants currently outside the US.
