Sorry Lady Liberty – no unwashed masses need apply.
Foreign elites awash with cash and looking to "Unlock life in America" now have the goldenopportunity to pay less than initially thoughtfor a visa and a path to citizenship, according to the newly revampedtrumpcard.govwebsite which debuted on Dec. 10.
President Donald Trump'slong-touted "Trump Gold Card" which he said back in February would cost $5 million, is now on offer for the low, low price of $1 million.
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"THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT'S TRUMP GOLD CARD IS HERE TODAY!," wrote Trump onTruth Social on Dec. 10. "A direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people. SO EXCITING! Our Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable Talent."
Trump Gold Card: Not just gold, platinum, too
For a $5 million contribution, foreign high-rollers can now also avail of a "Platinum Card," which comes with the ability to spend up to 270 days in the U.S. without being subject to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income.
The first step to apply requires a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security. The applicants will then be vetted and approved by the DHS and following a $1 million donation can expect to receive U.S. residency in "record time," according to the website.
There's also a remedy for corporations looking to procure foreign talent. But that would require a $2 million gift. While Trump has defended H-1B visas, which corporations utilize to bring in foreign skilled workers, he'smade it harderfor companies by increasing the application cost to $100,000. But his defense of the program hasdrawn ire from his MAGA base.
For an individual applicant or corporate sponsor looking to sponsor a spouse or unmarried children under the age of 21, they'd be required to pay an additional $15,000 DHS processing fee and $1 million gift per person, according to the site, which accepts the fees online.
A family of four would be looking at shelling out north of $4.6 million.
Trump has said thathe is not seeking approval from Congressas he is not providing gold card buyers with citizenship – only a path to citizenship.
Other countries also have immigration programs that offer permanent residency or citizenship to foreign investors in exchange for investment. Portugal, for example, offers residency and a path to EU citizenship after five years.
Gold Card is not a foreign investment, but a 'gift'
When he first floated the idea in February, Trump said the card wouldreplace the "EB-5" immigrant investorgreen card visa program. However, according to the website, the immigrants coming on the new gold card would be on an EB-1 or EB-2 visa, which areemployment-based visas for highly skilled professionalswith advanced degrees or exceptional ability in a particular field.
"A $1 million gift upon completion of the individual's vetting is evidence that the individual will substantially benefit the United States," the site says.
TheEB-5 visa allows immigrant investorsthe option to invest between $800,000 and $1.05 million to obtain a green card. The investment money is used to help create or preserve U.S. jobs. And at some point, the investment is also something the immigrant can claim back. However, the program currently has long wait times and country caps.
The new $1 million Trump Gold Card is a donation, with no indication of any of the money ever going back to the people buying it.
"Wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card," Trump said in February when he first introduced the concept. "They'll be wealthy, and they'll be successful, and they'll be spending a lot of money, and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people."
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY.You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:$1 million fast-track to US residency with Trump Gold Card
