US President Trump officially launched the controversial "Trump Gold Card" program, allowing wealthy foreigners to obtain US residency directly for $1 million, while companies applying for residency for their employees must pay $2 million. The government also announced the upcoming "Platinum Card," priced at $5 million, which would allow holders to stay in the US for 270 days annually and be exempt from foreign income tax. This policy, while strengthening the deportation of illegal immigrants, also opens a simple, paid pathway for the wealthy, sparking widespread debate.
Trump launches Gold Card program, offering US visas for millions of dollars.
Trump officially announced the launch of the "Trump Gold Card," which allows foreign individuals to expedite the acquisition of visas previously offered under the EB-1 Immigrant Nominee Program or the EB-2 Employment-Based Immigration Program by paying a $15,000 administrative fee to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and making a $1 million donation after undergoing a background check.
Trump posted on his personal social media account, Truth Social, along with a link to apply for the Trump Gold Card, claiming that the program could bring billions of dollars in benefits to the United States.
The Gold Card offers a direct path to citizenship for all qualified and vetted individuals—how exciting! Our great American companies can finally retain their valuable talent.
These visas, originally intended for assessing outstanding talent and specialized professionals, are now being replaced by a "direct payment" system that replaces the complex and rigorous competency verification process, sparking heated debate.
Enterprise version launched simultaneously: $2 million including annual fee and transfer fee.
According to the executive order signed in September of this year, in addition to individual applications, companies can also purchase gold card eligibility for specific employees for up to $2 million.
The official website states that companies holding yellow cards also need to pay an annual maintenance fee of 1%, or approximately $20,000. If they wish to transfer a gold card to a different employee, they must pay an additional 5%, or approximately $100,000, in transfer fees.
This move effectively commodifies visas, giving businesses and capital greater flexibility, but it has also been criticized for potentially undermining the original purpose of EB visas, which were designed for professionals.
The more prestigious Platinum card: $5 million grants 270 days of residency and exemption from foreign income tax.
The official website also announced the upcoming launch of the "Trump Platinum Card," which will cost up to $5 million.
Holders of the rights can stay in the United States for up to 270 days per year without paying U.S. taxes on their overseas income, effectively granting high-net-worth individuals more than six months of freedom to stay and leave the U.S. Currently, this proposal is still pending congressional approval.
(Immigration gold cards bearing Trump's image have been unveiled! Paying five million US dollars allows you to become a legitimate American.)
Trump deports immigrants while opening the door to the wealthy? Benefits and controversy coexist.
This plan comes as the Trump administration is pouring resources into preparing to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. The policy's crackdown on low-income immigrants while simultaneously offering paid shortcuts to the wealthy appears particularly ironic and contradictory.
However, the tech and business communities seem to be taking a positive stance, with Trump even specifically mentioning that Apple CEO Tim Cook had repeatedly advocated for this plan. At the same time, the government is also strengthening reforms to the high costs and lottery system for work visas such as the H-1B visa, clearly moving towards a "capital-driven" immigration system.
This article, "Trump Launches Gold and Platinum Visas: $1 Million to $5 Million for Residency and Tax-Free Benefits," first appeared on ChainNews and ABMedia.