Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced that a new visa program known as the gold card will be available in about a week to a week and a half. The program offers wealthy foreigners a path to U.S. citizenship. Lutnick shared the update during a cabinet meeting at the White House, one week after President Donald Trump revealed the physical card onboard Air Force One.
The gold card does not directly grant citizenship and does not require approval from Congress. Instead, it provides an entry point for those willing to contribute financially to eventually pursue U.S. citizenship. To participate, individuals must pay $5 million to the U.S. government. In return, they receive a gold-colored card featuring a photograph of Trump and labeled with “The Trump Card,” along with the figures “5M” and “5,000,000” printed on the corners.
This initiative resembles the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which allows foreign investors to apply for permanent residency by investing in U.S. businesses and creating or maintaining at least ten jobs. However, the gold card differs in that the funds are paid directly to the government rather than into a commercial venture.
Some investors have raised concerns about the future of the EB-5 visa, questioning whether it will be discontinued in favor of the new program. During the same cabinet meeting, Lutnick addressed these concerns, stating that the EB-5 program will not be phased out but instead restructured. Under the new framework, individuals who purchase the $5 million license through the Department of Commerce will still be able to participate in the traditional EB-5 investment process.
