Trump Announces the “Gold Card”: A New Path to U.S. Residency for Investors

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a new residency program for wealthy foreigners, known as the “gold card.” This mechanism will allow investors to obtain the right to live and work in the country, as well as a pathway to citizenship, in exchange for a $5 million investment.

How Does the “Gold Card” Work?

The initiative aims to attract foreign capital to the United States and, according to the government, will replace the current EB-5 visa program. The sale of these cards will begin in approximately two weeks, according to Trump, who suggested that millions of them could be issued.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick explained that applicants will undergo a verification process to ensure they are “world-class global citizens.” However, specific requirements and additional benefits of the card have not yet been disclosed.

Also, you may be interested in: “New Registration Requirement for Foreigners in the U.S. Starting in 2025″

Differences Between the “Gold Card” and the EB-5 Visa

Currently, the EB-5 visa allows foreigners to obtain permanent residency in the U.S. through a minimum investment of:

• $1.05 million in any area of the country, or
• $800,000 in targeted employment areas, meaning economically distressed regions.

Additionally, applicants must commit to creating or maintaining at least 10 permanent jobs for qualified U.S. workers.

In contrast, the “gold card” would apparently eliminate the job creation requirement and increase the investment amount to $5 million, although further details on the application process and conditions for citizenship have yet to be confirmed.

What Impact Will This Program Have?

The announcement of this new residency option comes in a context of stricter immigration policies, including measures such as raids and proposals to restrict birthright citizenship. With the “gold card,” the government aims to attract high-net-worth foreigners, facilitating their access to U.S. residency without the limitations of the EB-5 program.

In the coming days, the Trump administration is expected to provide more details on the application process, eligibility criteria, and specific benefits of this new pathway to U.S. citizenship.

From: https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2025/02/26/eeuu/tarjeta-dorada-trump-diferencias-eb5-orix 

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