President Trump has launched his ‘Gold Card’, a new visa scheme offering permanent US residency – while tourists may have to show five years of social media history to gain entry to the US
US President Donald Trump has begun taking applications for his highly anticipated ‘gold card’. The gold card provides legal status and a route to US citizenship – but only if you’re prepared to shell out $1 million.
On Wednesday 10 December, Trump launched the scheme alongside business leaders at the White House, announcing that a website was to begin accepting applications.
Before the programme went live, Trump posted on Truth Social: “THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT’S TRUMP GOLD CARD IS HERE TODAY! A direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people. SO EXCITING! Our Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable Talent. Live Site opens in 30 minutes!”.
The initiative is designed to replace EB-5 visas, established by Congress in 1990 to attract foreign investment and previously available to those investing approximately $1 million in a business employing at least 10 people.
Trump’s visa scheme targets individuals capable of paying the full sum, whilst businesses must pay up to double that amount for each foreign-born worker. Trump views this updated system as a method for America to draw in and retain exceptional talent whilst boosting federal revenues, reports the Mirror.
The president confirmed that all money collected through the programme will “go to the U.S. government” and forecast that billions would pour into a Treasury Department-managed account “where we can do things positive for the country.”
The new scheme is essentially a green card, offering permanent legal residency with the potential for citizenship. “Basically, it’s a green card but much better,” Trump declared. “Much more powerful, a much stronger path.”
The president didn’t mention any prerequisites for job creation for applicant corporations or overall limits on the programme, which are present in the current EB-5 scheme. He said he’d listened to complaints from business leaders who had been unable to hire top graduates from U.S. universities due to their foreign nationality and lack of permission to remain.
“You can’t hire people from the best colleges because you don’t know whether or not you can keep the person,” Trump stated.
Meanwhile, tourists from dozens of countries including the UK could be asked to provide five years of social media history to gain entry to the United States, under a new proposal unveiled by American officials.
The new condition would affect people from countries who are eligible to visit the US for 90 days without a visa, as long as they have filled out an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form.
The proposal says “the data element will require ESTA applicants, external to provide their social media from the last 5 years”, without giving further details of which specific information will be required, reports the BBC.
The US is expecting an influx of foreign tourists in 2026, as it hosts the men’s football World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, while it is also hosting the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
#Donald #Trump #unveils #Gold #Card #pathway #citizenship #itll #cost #million
