- The application portal went live immediately after Trump announced the programme in the Roosevelt Room
- He made no reference to investment-linked job creation requirements or annual limits, which were features of the older EB-5 arrangement
- The president insisted that American companies would ultimately benefit from access to exceptional foreign professionals
United States President Donald Trump has officially unveiled the long-anticipated “Gold Card,” a premium immigration route that offers legal residency and a pathway to citizenship for individuals willing to invest at least $1 million.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that corporations seeking to sponsor foreign talent will be required to pay $2 million per beneficiary.
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The application portal went live immediately after Trump announced the programme in the Roosevelt Room of the White House alongside top business leaders.
The initiative is replacing the former EB-5 visa system, which required investors to inject funds into businesses generating jobs for Americans.
Speaking during the launch, Trump described the Gold Card as a “stronger, more powerful” version of the traditional green card, saying the revamped system would help the U.S. attract top-tier global talent while generating substantial revenue for the Treasury.
He predicted that billions of dollars would be deposited into a special government-controlled account dedicated to national development.
The president noted that the programme responds to persistent complaints from employers who struggle to retain exceptional foreign graduates of U.S. universities due to visa restrictions.
He made no reference to investment-linked job creation requirements or annual limits, which were features of the older EB-5 arrangement.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick disclosed that each application will attract an additional $15,000 screening fee, emphasising that rigorous background vetting will ensure only highly qualified individuals are admitted.
Lutnick added that the government aims to shift immigrant inflow toward highly skilled, high-earning professionals.
Though Trump is known for his hard-line immigration stance, the Gold Card marks a strategic pivot designed to draw elite global talent from countries such as China, India and France.
The president insisted that American companies would ultimately benefit from access to exceptional foreign professionals.
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