Trump’s ‘Gold Card’ Visa: A $5 Million Ticket to the American Dream?
Trump’s proposed “Gold Card” visa program seeks to attract affluent foreign investors by offering U.S. residency and a pathway to citizenship in exchange for a $5 million investment. This initiative aims to replace the existing EB-5 visa program, simplifying the process by removing job creation requirements and focusing on direct financial contributions to the U.S. government.
President’s Trump US Gold Card VS EB-5 program
In late March 2025, US Commerce Secretary Lutnick announced on the All In podcast that he had sold 1,000 “US Gold Cards” in one day. That is the same card that President Trump announced in February 2025, while stating at the time that the new program should replace the existing EB-5 program with a more modest cost – from $800,000. Could Trump’s decision negatively affect those who have already applied for EB-5.
The Ultimate Guide to Citizenship by Investment in 2025: Where to Invest
Whether your goal is to secure a second passport, safeguard your assets, or expand your global presence, this guide outlines the most compelling citizenship by investment programs for 2025.
Rural US EB-5 project in California for investors under the immigrant visa program
In its current form, the US EB-5 (green card for investors) program was restarted after a technical pause in 2022. When the United States Congress finally voted on a bill in March 2022 in favor of this mechanism to attract foreign capital. According to the amendments, the minimum investment amount is $800,000 (USD) for projects in a qualified area with high unemployment or rural areas, or for infrastructure projects. It is precisely in projects with the “Rural” characteristict that we will talk about in more detail.
The EB-5 Regional Center Program’s big revival has been announced
The new minimum investment level for the EB-5 program will be $1.05 million, which will be reduced to $800,000 if the project is located in a qualified area with high unemployment or in a rural area or is an infrastructure project.
EB-5 visa program is on a technical pause from July 1, 2021
Why do investors choose an EB-5 program? Because a visa like EB-5 is immigration. That is, subject to other conditions, you can ultimately obtain US citizenship.
