Trump has unveiled a new “gold card” visa program that allows wealthy individuals to purchase U.S. citizenship for a $5 million investment. This move comes as a replacement for the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which has been the pathway to U.S. residency for foreign investors, provided they create jobs. But this new initiative removes the job creation requirement, essentially offering a “green card for sale.” While the EB-5 program mandated that investors create at least 10 full-time jobs, the gold card program is all about the financial investment—no strings attached.
Trump’s “gold card” offers no job creation requirement, aiming to attract wealth without work. It seems to be part of a broader strategy to open U.S. doors to those with significant financial resources. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has suggested the gold card program will be more selective than its predecessor. That said, the financial thresholds are much higher than the original EB-5 program. Under the EB-5, an investor needed $1.05 million or $800,000 in targeted areas and to create jobs. Now? It’s all about the money—and without the economic benefits that the previous program aimed to secure for American workers.
This shift raises eyebrows across the political spectrum. Critics argue that Trump’s proposal undermines the spirit of the EB-5, which had economic value beyond just the influx of money. Trump’s idea, however, focuses strictly on the wealthiest applicants, potentially bypassing the broader economic effects and leaving the job creation component behind.
Sources:
https://therealdeal.com/national/2025/02/26/trump-floats-gold-card-to-replace-eb-5-program/
https://theprint.in/world/trump-to-end-eb-5-immigrant-investor-visa-program/2511644/
https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/eb-5-immigrant-investor-program