Trump's Gold Card Visa Program Goes Live: A Premium Path to U.S. Residency

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has officially announced the launch of President Donald Trump's Gold Card visa program, a high-value immigration initiative aimed at attracting wealthy individuals and corporations to invest in the American economy.

Key Details of the Gold Card Program:
- For Individuals:
- Pay $1 million to obtain permanent residency.
- Must create jobs and build businesses in the U.S.
- Subject to rigorous vetting by the Department of Homeland Security.
- Includes a $15,000 processing fee.

- For Corporations:
- Pay $2 million to sponsor one employee.
- The company owns the card and can transfer it to another employee for a fee.

- Privileges:
- Holders are classified as “privileged permanent residents”.
- Full rights to live and work in the U.S. permanently.
- Includes a pathway to citizenship.

Replacing Existing Programs:
The Gold Card replaces the diversity lottery and employment-based green card categories EB-1 and EB-2, which Lutnick described as outdated and misaligned with economic goals.

He emphasized that this program is designed to strengthen the U.S. economy, create jobs, and cut the deficit, positioning immigration as a tool to serve American interests first.