Trump launches new money-making scheme: Gold Card visa, minimum $1 million, premium $5 million, no taxes in the US.

```

U.S. President Trump has come up with a new way for the government to generate revenue: attracting wealthy individuals with high-priced visas and offering a fast track for obtaining U.S. residency visas.

On Friday the 19th Eastern Time, Trump announced the launch of a visa program called the “Trump Gold Card,” offering residency rights in the U.S. to wealthy people around the globe. Individual applicants may pay up to $5 million, allowing them to stay in the U.S. for up to 270 days without paying taxes on income earned outside the U.S. Companies can apply for gold cards for unlimited numbers of employees. Trump said that tech executives would be "very pleased" with the Gold Card program, as it would allow them to bring in more employees.

While signing the relevant executive order in the Oval Office, Trump said that the Gold Card visa program would "raise billions of dollars to fund tax cuts, pay off debt, and for other beneficial purposes." U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick estimated the visa program would raise more than $100 billion for the U.S. government.

The Gold Card visa program is part of Trump’s broader immigration system reforms. The Trump administration is also tightening restrictions on other immigration channels. On Friday, Trump also signed a proclamation requiring companies to pay a fee of $100,000 to obtain an H-1B work visa.

Visa Program Details and Pricing Structure

The U.S. government’s new visa program official website shows that individual applicants can choose between two levels: the “Gold Card” and the “Platinum Card.”

To apply for the “Trump Gold Card,” one needs to pay $1 million, plus application fees, and after being reviewed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), must pay an additional $1 million, after which they can obtain U.S. residency at “record speed.” The higher-tier “Platinum Card” requires a payment of $5 million, allowing holders to stay in the U.S. for up to 270 days and not pay taxes on income earned outside the U.S.

The Gold Card visa also has a corporate version. Companies may pay $2 million per employee for the Gold Card, and there is no limit to the number of employees to whom they can grant U.S. residency through this program.

The official website states: “The Trump Enterprise Gold Card allows companies to transfer Gold Card privileges from one employee to another, subject to a transfer fee and review by the Department of Homeland Security. There is also a small annual maintenance fee.”

The website has already launched an “Apply Now” section, which requires applicants to provide their name, region of residence, and email address. However, the timeframe for the actual issuance of visas remains undetermined.

Legal Obstacles and Congressional Approval Requirements

Immigration experts have pointed out that the new visa program may need Congressional approval before implementation. Legal experts and immigration attorneys state that the President cannot create a new visa category without Congressional authorization.

It is unclear whether the new Gold Card program will replace the existing EB-5 visa program. The EB-5 visa has long been a fast-track route for wealthy individuals to immigrate to the U.S., with the current investment threshold at $800,000.

Experts also warn that allowing rich people to “cut the line” could face legal challenges and lawsuits. As early as last June, the Trump administration had already created a waiting list for the program to attract prospective applicants to sign up.

Double Standards in Immigration Policy Spark Market Reaction

The launch of this visa program comes as the Trump administration is tightening restrictions on other forms of immigration. The government is taking action not only against undocumented immigrants but has also reduced programs offering temporary protected status and humanitarian parole, among other legal immigration pathways.

On Friday, the Trump administration also announced a $100,000 fee hike for the H-1B visa program in order to curb abuse. This move will significantly increase the cost for technology companies and other businesses to hire foreign engineers and technical workers.

Referring to the current visa program, Lutnick said on Friday, “We used to take in people from the bottom; now we are going to stop that. We will only accept top outstanding talents, not people who are taking jobs from Americans.”

After the news broke Friday about the new H-1B visa fees, stock prices of some IT consulting firms hit daily lows. Accenture’s stock at one point dropped more than 2% before closing up slightly, while Cognizant closed down 4.7%.

Risk DisclaimerThe market has risks, so invest with caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice nor does it take into account any particular user’s special investment objectives, financial situation, or needs. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their individual circumstances. Investments made accordingly are at your own risk. ```