US President Donald Trump has opened the waiting list for the ‘gold card’ - a $5 million route to legal immigration to the United States. Trump on Wednesday launched trumpcard.gov, the website where people can register their interest in signing up for the long-awaited and much-touted ‘gold card’ that secures permanent residency in the US.
What is the ‘gold card’ being offered by Donald Trump?
The ‘gold card’ being offered by Donald Trump is a newly announced $5 million immigration programme that promises permanent residency in the United States for wealthy individuals.
Launched via the website trumpcard.gov, the scheme is positioned as a fast-track alternative to the existing EB-5 investor visa, offering what Trump describes as “green card privileges plus.”
So people who pay $5 million can become US citizens?
Well, not exactly. According to USA Today, paying $5 million does not get one immediate citizenship to the US.
In fact, Trump has said that the gold card offers only a path to citizenship, not citizenship itself.
“It’s somewhat like a green card, but at a higher level of sophistication. It’s a road to citizenship for people, and essentially people of wealth or people of great talent,” Trump said.
Can I now sign up for Trump’s gold card?
The website is open, but gold cards are not being sold yet. Instead, people can sign up to be notified.
{{/usCountry}}The website is open, but gold cards are not being sold yet. Instead, people can sign up to be notified.
{{/usCountry}}“Enter your information below to be notified the moment access opens,” reads the text on the homepage of trumpcard.gov.
How is the gold card different from the EB-5 investor visa?
The EB-5 investor visa is a U.S. immigration programme that grants permanent residency to foreign nationals who invest $800,000 to $1.05 million in a US business and create at least 10 full-time American jobs. It offers a path to a green card and eventual citizenship.
Unlike the EB-5, which requires applicants to create at least 10 jobs in the US, the gold card reportedly removes that requirement, making it a simpler and more direct route to legal immigration and eventual citizenship.