Trump Introduces Fast-Track Gold Card Visas
Former President Trump has unveiled a new immigration initiative, offering fast-tracked US visas to wealthy foreigners willing to pay a minimum of $1 million (£750,000). Dubbed the “Trump Gold Card,” the program is designed to provide affluent applicants with a direct path to US citizenship, while simultaneously benefiting American businesses seeking top talent.
“Direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people. SO EXCITING! Our Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable Talent,” Trump said on social media this week, promoting the plan to his supporters.
The Gold Card, first announced earlier this year, is essentially a visa that grants residency to individuals who demonstrate they will provide a “substantial benefit” to the United States, according to the program’s official website. The initiative comes at a time when the Trump administration has intensified its immigration crackdown, raising work visa fees, pausing asylum decisions, and deporting undocumented migrants.
Trump’s Gold Card Scheme Sparks Debate Over Wealth-Based US Residency
The Gold Card promises US residency in “record time” for those who can afford the $1 million fee, which the program justifies as evidence that applicants will substantially benefit the country. Companies sponsoring employees must pay $2 million in addition to other fees, while a forthcoming “Platinum” version of the card offers special tax breaks at a $5 million price point.
Applicants are also required to pay a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee before the review of their application. Additional government fees may be levied depending on each applicant’s circumstances, further increasing the cost of entry.
According to Trump, the program targets high-level professionals who will contribute to the economy. “The people that can pay $5 million, they’re going to create jobs. It’s going to sell like crazy. It’s a bargain,” he told reporters. The president’s focus on wealth and business potential has drawn both praise and criticism, igniting a debate over fairness and economic impact.
Since its announcement in February, the Gold Card scheme has faced scrutiny from Democrats and immigration advocates, who argue it privileges the wealthy and undermines traditional immigration processes. Critics point out that while the Green Card system allows immigrants of various income levels to live and work permanently in the US—with eligibility for citizenship after five years—the Gold Card effectively fast-tracks the process for the rich.
“This program seems designed to reward wealth rather than merit,” said one immigration expert. “It creates a two-tiered system where the privileged few gain quicker access to citizenship while others wait years.”
Detractors also highlight that the policy comes amid a broader push by Trump to tighten immigration enforcement. Alongside the Gold Card, the administration has increased visa fees, paused immigration applications from 19 countries—mostly in Africa and the Middle East—and reviewed thousands of asylum approvals issued under the Biden administration.
The Gold Card is part of a larger pattern in which Trump’s immigration policies emphasize economic utility over humanitarian considerations. In September, the administration announced a $100,000 fee for applicants to the H-1B visa program for skilled foreign workers. Though the White House later clarified that the fee would only affect applicants currently living abroad, the decision caused widespread concern among international students and tech companies reliant on foreign talent.
The Gold Card scheme, critics argue, could exacerbate inequality by granting expedited access to residency primarily to those with substantial financial resources, while simultaneously making it harder for lower-income immigrants to navigate the system. Proponents, on the other hand, argue it will attract high-level professionals who can stimulate job creation and economic growth.
According to Trump, the Gold Card is designed to benefit both foreign applicants and American companies. By fast-tracking visas for wealthy and talented individuals, businesses can retain indispensable employees, while the country gains individuals who are expected to contribute economically.
Supporters suggest that such policies are necessary in a competitive global economy, where attracting top talent is critical to innovation and growth. Critics caution that prioritizing wealth over other forms of merit may undermine social cohesion and exacerbate public resentment toward immigration policies.
As the Gold Card program rolls out, attention will focus on how many applications are approved and whether the scheme achieves its stated goals of attracting top talent. Meanwhile, Trump’s dual approach—restricting access for certain groups while opening a fast-track for the wealthy—continues to spark debate about the ethics and effectiveness of wealth-based immigration policy.
Whether hailed as a business-friendly innovation or criticized as a controversial cash-for-citizenship scheme, the Gold Card cements Trump’s approach to immigration as one that prioritizes economic impact and political messaging, further polarizing the nation on one of its most contentious issues.
Source- BBC
