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TRTrump plans "Gold Card" for rich immigrants
In the future, foreigners might be able to secure a so-called "Gold Card" for the USA for a one-off payment of five million dollars, offering all the benefits of the Green Card. Too expensive? We think so, too. Fortunately, there is still an affordable alternative for non-millionaires.
Take the chance of living in the USA and apply for the official US Green Card Lottery!
New US immigration model for the rich
The US government under President Donald Trump is planning a fundamental change in immigration policy: in the future, wealthy foreigners are to be given the opportunity to secure a so-called "Gold Card" for a one-off payment of five million dollars.
This newly created residence permit would grant its holder all the benefits of a regular Green Card, including unlimited right to live and work in the United States, the ability to enter and leave the country without additional visas, as well as access to social benefits and government support programs.
In addition, just like the Green Card, the "Gold Card" is a direct bridge to US citizenship, as its holders are given the opportunity to apply for an American passport after a fixed period of residence, usually five years.
"Gold Card" to replace EB-5 Investor Green Card
The planned "Gold Card" program is to be launched in the coming weeks and will completely replace the previous EB-5 visa program.
While the EB-5 program was designed to attract foreign investors who created jobs in the USA through capital investments, the "Gold Card" takes a completely different approach. Instead of making an investment in the American economy, applicants for the "Gold Card" pay the flat fee directly to the government.
Apart from the payment, the government has not yet specified any other criteria for obtaining the "Gold Card". It therefore remains unclear whether the new regulation will at least require language skills, for example, or whether capital alone will actually be the deciding factor.
| EB-5 visa | "Gold Card" | |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | At least 800,000 dollars (investment in structurally weak regions) or 1,050,000 dollars in regular regions | 5 million dollars (direct payment to the US government) |
| Investment | Capital must flow into a US company or project and create jobs | No investment required, only a fee |
| Number of jobs that must be created | 10 full-time jobs for US citizens or legal residents of the USA | None |
| Aim of the program | Economic development and job creation through investment | Revenue for the US state budget through high fees |
Trump cannot introduce the "Gold Card" without Congress
Although Trump has announced that the "Gold Card" will replace the existing EB-5 visa in about two weeks, experts are expressing doubts as to whether this can actually be implemented without the approval of Congress.
Muzaffar Chishti from the Migration Policy Institute stressed to the Washington Post that the EB-5 program is enshrined in law and cannot be unilaterally replaced by a new regulation without further ado.
It therefore remains to be seen whether the "Gold Card" will actually be introduced as announced. However, if it succeeds, it would be a radical departure from previous immigration programs - with unclear economic and political consequences.
What would the "Gold Card" mean for immigrants?
While the EB-5 program was economically oriented and specifically supported companies, the "Gold Card" opens the door to the super-rich who want to buy a place in the USA - without having to make an active contribution.
Critics complain that this dilutes the basic idea behind US immigration policy, as it is no longer entrepreneurial initiative that determines residency status, but wealth alone.
At the same time, the new program could make immigration considerably easier for the wealthy. The bureaucracy associated with the EB-5 visa - including detailed proof of investment and job creation - is now a thing of the past. Those who have the money will receive the "Gold Card" practically without any detours.
US immigration for normal earners: this is how it works!
Don't have five million dollars? Don't panic! There is still an excellent way to immigrate to the US on the cheap: the annual Green Card Lottery.
The world-famous lottery of 55,000 US immigrant visas per year, also known as the Diversity Visa Program, is a program organized by the US government. The aim of the lottery is to offer people from countries with low immigration rates to the USA a fair chance of permanent residency.
Anyone who wins a GreenCard not only receives the unrestricted right to reside and work, but can also later apply for US citizenship. However, the GreenCard already grants almost the same rights as US citizenship.
Register now for the next Green Card Lottery and take your chance to immigrate to the USA - without having to invest millions!
