Trump's 'Golden Visa' Lures Wealthy Foreigners to the US: New Exclusive Residency Program Unveiled

The Trump administration launched the "Trump Golden Card" program, offering wealthy foreigners U.S. residency rights for $1 million. This new immigration pathway targets high-skilled workers and promises to generate massive federal revenue, with the Commerce Department projecting over $100 billion from the golden card alone.

Trump had revealed this plan several months ago, positioning it as a way to attract pre-screened, highly qualified talent for American companies. The program comes with ambitious financial projections - while the golden card could bring in $100 billion, a more expensive "Platinum Card" program might generate around $1 trillion, though the government hasn't specified the timeframe for collecting these amounts.

The golden card features Trump's image alongside the Statue of Liberty. But there's already a waiting list for the premium option. The "Trump Platinum Card" costs $5 million and allows wealthy applicants to spend up to 270 days annually in the U.S. without paying American taxes on foreign-earned income.

"How exciting! Finally, our great American companies will be able to retain their valuable talent," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Companies can also buy in directly. For $2 million, businesses can purchase residency permits for employees "in record time." The individual still needs to pass security screening after that.

The government says cardholders might qualify for citizenship after several years. Officials explained the system works similarly to the familiar green card, which lets foreigners live and work permanently in the United States.

Here's how it might work in practice: companies could keep foreign students after graduation instead of requiring them to return home. This addresses a common frustration in the tech industry, where companies invest in training international graduates only to lose them due to visa restrictions.

The program represents a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy, essentially creating a fast-track residency option for those who can afford it. But the success will depend on demand from wealthy individuals and companies willing to pay premium prices for immigration certainty.