Donald Trump just dropped a bombshell in U.S. immigration policy: the launch of a “Gold Card” visa program that comes with a $1 million price tag — or $2 million if a company wants to sponsor a worker.
“We think it’s going to be very successful… It’s going to raise billions of dollars, which will reduce taxes, pay off debt, and do other good things,” Trump said as he signed the executive order.
The former president claims this plan will flip the immigration system on its head — swapping mass inflows of workers for a handful of “extraordinary” people who bring in serious money.
💡 Why the Gold Card Could Change the Game
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Price Tag Power: Foreigners can fast-track visas with a $1M payment. Companies can do the same for $2M.
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Corporate Flexibility: Firms sponsoring an employee can later switch the sponsorship to someone else — no new fee required.
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Tax-Free Benefits: Holders can spend up to 270 days a year in the U.S. without paying tax on non-U.S. income.
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Prestige Visa Status: Successful applicants get lawful permanent residency under EB-1 or EB-2 categories.
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Big Money Goal: Trump envisions as much as $100 billion flowing into U.S. coffers through the program.
“We’re going to stop taking the bottom quartile,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “The Gold Card will only bring in extraordinary people at the very top — people who will create jobs for Americans.”
But there’s a catch: selling visas at this price point has failed elsewhere. Similar “golden visa” schemes in Europe and Asia attracted limited buyers. Critics also question whether U.S. law even allows such a program.
Still, Trump insists this is about making immigration profitable for taxpayers — and ensuring America only admits the “best of the best.”
News-Style Rewrite (Formal & Fact-Driven)
Trump Introduces $1 Million “Gold Card” Visa Program, Positioning It as an Alternative to the Green Card
Washington, D.C. — Former President Donald Trump has announced a new “Gold Card” visa program through executive order, offering fast-tracked U.S. residency for individuals or companies willing to pay substantial fees.
Under the initiative, foreign nationals may obtain expedited visas by paying $1 million. Companies sponsoring foreign workers can do so for $2 million, with the additional flexibility of transferring the sponsorship to another individual without incurring new costs.
Trump framed the move as a way to both reform immigration and generate significant federal revenue. “We think it’s going to be very successful… It’s going to raise billions of dollars, which will reduce taxes, pay off debt, and do other good things,” he said.
On Truth Social, Trump added that the program could raise over $100 billion quickly, with funds earmarked for tax relief, debt reduction, and growth initiatives.
Why the “Gold Card” Differs from Green Cards
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick argued that the current employment-based green card system is flawed, noting that it annually admits roughly 281,000 individuals who, on average, earn $66,000 per year and are disproportionately reliant on government assistance.
“This was illogical,” Lutnick said. “The Gold Card is designed to admit only extraordinary individuals at the very top, capable of creating businesses and jobs for Americans. Instead of taking jobs, they’ll be creating them.”
According to official information:
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Gold Card applicants would receive lawful permanent residency under EB-1 or EB-2 visa categories.
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Holders may spend up to 270 days in the U.S. each year without taxation on foreign income.
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The original framework proposed a $5 million cost, though current guidelines cite $1–2 million.
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Trump previously suggested the U.S. might sell up to one million of the visas, though Lutnick’s projections are significantly lower.
Uncertainty remains over whether existing immigration law permits the sale of visas in this manner. Analysts also note that comparable “golden visa” schemes in other countries have met with limited success.
Still, Trump’s administration insists the Gold Card program represents a fundamental shift: limiting immigration to high-net-worth individuals who contribute directly to U.S. economic growth.
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