
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Continuing his promise to ensure that only the best of the best of foreign talent comes to the US, President Trump has rolled out his much anticipated – and somewhat controversial – “immigration Gold Card.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Discussing the launch of the program, Trump told reporters at the White House that it would function “somewhat like a green card” letting foreigners become instantly eligible for permanent residency status to work in America.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Individuals have to pay $1 million to US Treasury coffers, while companies will have to fork over $2 million to keep employees.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Regardless of the cash, the Department of Homeland Security will still conduct a background check on all applicants to make sure they are qualified. After five years, any gold card-carrying permanent resident can apply for full citizenship.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT’S TRUMP GOLD CARD IS HERE TODAY! A direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people,” the president later ;posted on his Truth Social, sharing a link to the website for applicants.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“SO EXCITING! Our Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable Talent. Live Site opens in 30 minutes!”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The card purchases are revamping the backlogged and cumbersome ;EB-5 visa program ;that had awarded permanent legal status to foreigners who invest ;up to $1 million ;in US businesses.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As many as ;250,000 foreigners ;were still waiting for their approvals as part of that program as of February this year.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Congress authorized the visa program in 1990 to place investments of differing levels based on the region of the US. Some rural areas only required around $800,000 as opposed to $1 million.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The foreign investors also had to show they could create at least 10 American jobs with the funds.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Just ;135,518 EB-5 visas have been issued in its 25-year history, according to data from the Invest In the USA trade association.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump expects that “hundreds of billions of dollars” in revenue could result, and he says top business leaders ;like Apple’s Tim Cook have celebrated the gold card solution.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Originally set at a ;a $5 million ;price tag, the card has also been touted by Trump and his officials as a way of balancing the federal budget with more revenue.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“There’s a line for EB-5 of 250,000 right now. 200,000 of these gold green cards [at $5 million] is $1 trillion to pay down our debt,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in February.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The ;nation’s debt currently stands at more than $38 trillion.</p>

Trump Finally Rolls Out His Immigration “Gold Card”
