President Trump just announced a new plan to get rich foreigners into the US faster. It’s called the Trump Gold Card, a visa that costs at least $750,000 (about a million dollars). This is a big change for Washington, as the government has been cracking down on immigration and making it harder for foreign workers to enter.
Trump said on Wednesday that the Gold Card is a quick way for good people to become citizens and that American companies will finally be able to keep the talented people they need. He posted this on social media with a picture of the card, showing he wants to attract rich folks, even as he makes it harder for others. The Gold Card website says it’s for people who can prove they’ll be a big benefit to the US. It was first brought up earlier this year and is supposedly a special fast-track visa for residency. The million-dollar fee is meant to show that you’ll help the country.
If a business wants to sponsor a foreign worker, it will cost even more: $2 million, plus additional fees. There will also be a platinum card for five million dollars, which they say comes with special tax breaks. Everyone must pay a $15,000 application fee before their case is reviewed, and there may be additional government fees depending on your situation.
The Gold Card website features pictures of the card with Trump’s face and the slogan “Get a life in America.” Since it was first discussed in February, it has gotten a lot of attention, and Democrats complain that it favors the rich while shutting out other immigrants.
Trump said the Gold Card is like the regular green card, which lets people from all income levels live and work in the US. Green card holders can usually become citizens after five years. But Trump said this new visa is for high-level people and that we want people who get things done. He thinks people who can pay five million will create jobs and that the program will sell quickly. It’s a steal.
This is all happening while the government is trying to deport undocumented immigrants and make it harder to immigrate here. The US has stopped visa applications from the 19 countries covered by Trump’s travel ban. Most of these countries are in Africa and the Middle East. Officials have also stopped processing asylum cases and plan to review old applications approved under President Biden.
Back in September, Trump said that H-1B applicants (skilled foreign workers) would have to pay $100,000. International students and tech companies in the US were worried, but the White House said it would apply only to new applicants currently outside the country.
The Gold Card plan is different from everything else they’re doing. While many immigrants are having a tougher time, Trump hopes that a pricey, fast visa for rich professionals will appeal to the global elite and change US immigration the way he wants.
