The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced the opening of the official website of the “Trump Gold Card,” a new immigration program that will allow foreign nationals with high purchasing power to obtain U.S. residency in exchange for an investment of one million dollars.
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the program offers a fast track to legal residency for applicants who pay the required fee, pass the background check, and submit a processing fee of fifteen thousand dollars to the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump celebrated the launch of the portal on his platform Truth Social, where he stated that it represents “a direct pathway to citizenship for all qualified and verified individuals,” and asserted that the program will allow American companies to “retain their most valuable talent.”
The initiative also includes a “Platinum Card” version, costing five million dollars, which will allow its holders to stay in the United States for up to 270 days a year without paying taxes on income generated outside the country.
Companies wishing to sponsor foreign employees will need to pay two million dollars per visa, in addition to an annual maintenance fee of 1% of the investment value (20,000 dollars) and a 5% fee (100,000 dollars) if they wish to transfer the visa to another worker.
The Secretary of National Security, Kristi Noem, emphasized that "under this historic initiative, individuals and corporations that contribute one or two million dollars will receive expedited residency after a rigorous verification process."
Trump explained that the funds raised will be deposited "in an account to carry out positive projects for the country" and estimated that the program will generate "billions of dollars" for the U.S. economy.
The president defended the measure by stating that the United States should attract “successful individuals who want to come, invest, spend money, and pay taxes, instead of crossing borders illegally.”
The program was established through an executive order signed in September and arises in a context of tightening immigration policies and mass deportations.
Critics cited by The Guardian have warned that the plan contradicts the country's historical image as a destination for migrant workers and favors the wealthiest.
When the proposal was initially presented in February, the minimum cost was five million dollars, but the administration decided to reduce it to one million to make it more competitive compared to other international programs.
In countries like New Zealand or Portugal, residency by investment costs between two and three million dollars.
The publication on the official website of the "Trump Gold Card" marks a new step in the implementation of this immigration program, designed as a fast track for entry into the United States for those who can afford a million-dollar investment.
Donald Trump had already announced the initiative as a strategy to "attract the best", emphasizing that it would allow access to legal residency in exchange for one million dollars and the fulfillment of basic requirements such as background checks.
Since its introduction, the golden card has sparked controversy both inside and outside the United States. The program has been criticized for granting a "migration privilege" only to those who can afford it, while simultaneously tightening deportation policies for migrants without resources.
Although the Trump administration has defended the measure as a way to stimulate the economy, human rights organizations warn that it deepens inequality in access to residency.
Despite the criticism, the plan has sparked significant interest. Previous reports indicate that over 70,000 people had requested information on how to obtain the Gold Card, primarily from Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe.
However, the same report indicated that the program is facing at least four legal challenges accusing it of violating constitutional principles of equal treatment in immigration laws.
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