Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday launched a new waitlist website for his proposed “Gold Card” visa program, which offers permanent residency to foreigners willing to invest $5 million in the United States. The government-backed site, trumpcard.gov, is now accepting sign-ups from interested applicants.
“FOR FIVE MILLION $DOLLARS, THE TRUMP CARD IS COMING!” Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social. “Thousands have been calling and asking how they can sign up to ride a beautiful road in gaining access to the Greatest Country and Market anywhere in the World.”
Trump first introduced the “Trump Card” concept in February, describing it as “somewhat like a green card, but at a higher level of sophistication.” The website features an image of a gold-colored card with Trump’s face, and applicants must provide basic information such as name, region, email, and application type (individual or business).
What Is the ‘Gold Card’ Program?
The “Gold Card” initiative aims to offer wealthy foreigners a fast track to permanent residency by investing $5 million in the U.S. The program promises green card privileges and a pathway to citizenship.
“We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million and that’s going to give you green card privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to citizenship,” Trump said in February. “Wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card.”
Earlier this month, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick endorsed the program, stating, “The ordinary path of immigration for America is changing. The Trump Card is coming out. I expect the Trump Card will create really an enormous opportunity for people to have the ability to come to America.”
Legal Challenges Ahead
The “Gold Card” program is intended to replace the existing EB-5 visa scheme, which grants green cards to foreign investors who make specific investments in the U.S. economy. However, several lawmakers argue that such a sweeping immigration policy change requires congressional approval.
Trump, however, has insisted he will not seek approval from Congress, asserting that the Gold Card itself does not grant citizenship but only provides a route to it. Details on the requirements for this citizenship pathway remain unclear.
Currently, the EB-5 program requires applicants to pay fees between $100,000 and $200,000 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), invest either $1.8 million in a business or $900,000 in a targeted employment area, and create at least 10 American jobs.
The U.S. State Department’s legal team has expressed concerns about the “Gold Visa” program, warning that it faces a “high risk” of rejection by the White House’s budget office or being overturned in court, according to Reuters. An internal memo also noted that the proposed $5 million fee—far exceeding the typical visa processing costs—is “contrary to settled Supreme Court precedent.”
As the Trump administration pushes forward with this controversial immigration initiative, legal and political hurdles remain significant obstacles to its implementation.
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