As US Restricts H-1B, ‘Trump Gold Card’ Visa Launches At $1 Million

President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the Trump Gold Card visa programme, designed as an investment-based pathway to the United States.

Individuals can secure a visa for $1 million, while corporations can purchase a $2 million corporate card for one employee, with the flexibility to transfer ownership to another employee for a fee.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick outlined the programme on X, stressing that it ‘does not expand immigration’ but rather attracts exceptional talent to create jobs and grow businesses in the United States.

Applicants will undergo rigorous DHS vetting and pay a $15,000 processing fee.

Replacing Existing Visa Categories

The administration will replace ‘broken visa categories’ such as the Diversity Lottery with the Gold Card programme, as these categories failed to attract highly skilled individuals as intended.

Lutnick noted that the programme focuses on extraordinary individuals at the top of their fields, ensuring that participants contribute significantly to the US economy.

President Trump compared the initiative to a ‘signing bonus’ in professional sports, allowing talented graduates and professionals to remain in the United States.

“People attend top schools, perform excellently, and then face removal from the country. This programme ensures they stay, create businesses, and generate jobs for Americans,” he explained.

The programme targets high-earning individuals who will directly contribute to economic growth rather than compete for existing American jobs.

Corporate Gold Cards allow companies to invest in talent strategically while promoting entrepreneurship and business development within the country.

Officials project that the Trump Gold Card programme could raise over $100 billion for the US Treasury, combining visa investments with the economic contributions of incoming entrepreneurs and their enterprises.

The initiative aims to attract global talent, stimulate business creation, and enhance job opportunities domestically.

By linking visas to investment and business creation, the Trump Gold Card is positioned as a transformative tool for US economic policy and immigration reform.

It seeks to balance national security, job creation, and economic growth while providing a streamlined path for top-tier talent to enter and contribute to the American economy.

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