Washington, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a new immigration program that will allow wealthy immigrants to purchase a “Gold Card” for $5 million, providing them with Green Card privileges and a direct pathway to U.S. citizenship.
“We’re gonna be selling a gold card. You have a green card, this is a gold card,” Trump said, emphasizing that this premium immigration status would attract successful and high-net-worth individuals to the U.S. “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,” he added.
The announcement comes as India continues to be one of the largest beneficiaries of U.S. work visas, particularly the H-1B visa program, which allows companies to hire skilled foreign professionals. In the 2024 fiscal year, 3.9 lakh (390,000) H-1B visas were approved across 52,892 companies, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Indian IT giants like Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) ranked among the top 10 visa recipients.
While the H-1B visa remains the primary route for highly skilled Indian workers in sectors like technology and healthcare, Trump’s “Gold Card” proposal signals a shift towards wealth-based immigration. If implemented, this program could offer an alternative route for wealthy Indians seeking permanent residency and eventual citizenship in the U.S.
The proposal is expected to spark debate over merit vs. wealth-based immigration policies, with critics arguing it could prioritize the rich over skilled professionals. However, supporters claim it could boost the U.S. economy by attracting high-net-worth individuals willing to invest and create jobs.