News Brief: Trump’s “Gold Card” Visa Program
Summary
Former President Donald Trump has launched a new “Gold Card” investment visa program, allowing foreign nationals to obtain U.S. residency for a $1 million fee plus processing costs. The program repurposes existing EB-1 and EB-2 employment-based visa categories, sparking debate over whether wealth alone qualifies as an “extraordinary ability.” While proponents argue it attracts successful entrepreneurs, immigration attorneys criticize it for distorting the intent of skilled immigration programs and creating legal and logistical hurdles.
Key Points
- Program Launch: Trump announced applications are open for the “Trump Gold Card,” offering full-time U.S. residency in exchange for a $1 million payment and a $15,000 processing fee.
- Mechanism: The program adds a new fee model to existing EB-1 (“Einstein Visa”) and EB-2 visa programs, which are designed for individuals with extraordinary abilities or advanced professionals.
- Official Rationale: The White House argues that individuals able to pay $1 million are proven successful businesspeople who will benefit the U.S. economy through job creation and spending.
- Major Criticism: Immigration attorneys contend that equating wealth with “extraordinary ability” undermines the original purpose of the EB-1/EB-2 programs, potentially displacing genuinely highly skilled applicants.
- Legal & Logistical Hurdles:
- Queue Jumping: Concerns exist that “Gold Card” holders may receive priority over existing EB-1/EB-2 applicants, leading to potential lawsuits.
- Annual Caps: The EB-1 and EB-2 programs have annual limits (~28,000) and per-country caps, creating multi-year backlogs, especially for applicants from India and China.
- Uncertainty: The fee structure is a non-refundable payment, not an investment, with no explicit green card guarantee, deterring potential applicants.
- Proof of Funds: Stringent requirements to document the legal source of the $1 million present a significant obstacle for many potential applicants worldwide.
- Market Response: Despite interest from wealthy individuals in Asia, many are adopting a wait-and-see approach due to the program’s legal risks and unresolved operational details.
新闻简报：特朗普的”金卡”签证计划
摘要
美国前总统唐纳德·特朗普推出了一项新的”金卡”投资签证计划，允许外国国民通过支付100万美元费用及处理成本获得美国居留权。该计划重新利用了现有的EB-1和EB-2职业移民签证类别，引发了关于”财富本身是否等同于’非凡能力'”的辩论。支持者认为该计划能吸引成功的企业家，而移民律师则批评其扭曲了技术移民计划的初衷，并带来了法律和程序上的障碍。
关键点
- 计划启动：特朗普宣布开始接受”特朗普金卡”申请，通过支付100万美元和1.5万美元处理费，可换取美国全职居留权。
- 运作机制：该计划在现有的EB-1（”爱因斯坦签证”）和EB-2签证项目上增加了一个新的收费模式。这两个项目原本是为具有非凡能力或高级专业人才设计的。
- 官方理由：白宫认为，能够支付100万美元的个人是已被证明的成功商人，他们将通过创造就业和消费来造福美国经济。
- 主要批评：移民律师认为，将财富等同于”非凡能力”破坏了EB-1/EB-2项目的初衷，可能会排挤真正的高技能申请者。
- 法律与程序障碍：
- 插队担忧：人们担心”金卡”持有者可能会比现有的EB-1/EB-2申请者获得优先权，从而引发潜在诉讼。
- 年度配额限制：EB-1和EB-2项目有年度限额（约28,000张）和国家配额上限，造成了多年的积压，特别是对来自印度和中国的申请者。
- 不确定性：费用结构是不可退还的付款，而非投资，且没有明确的绿卡保证，这阻碍了潜在申请者。
- 资金证明：严格的要求需要证明100万美元的资金来源合法，这对全球许多潜在申请者构成了重大障碍。
- 市场反应：尽管亚洲富裕人群对此有兴趣，但由于该计划的法律风险和未解决的操作细节，许多人采取了观望态度。
Original Article Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/19/trump-gold-card-wealth-immigration-questions.html