Washington — The Trump administration on Wednesday launched the “Trump Gold Card” visa program, a paid route for non‑U.S. citizens to obtain expedited permission to live and work in the United States. The program is promoted on a site called Trumpcard.gov.
Applicants pay a $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security for faster handling. After standard background checks, the program requires a further “contribution” or “gift” of $1 million to secure the visa, which the site describes as similar to a Green Card. President Trump said the card is essentially a Green Card but “much better,” calling it a path for “great people.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Reuters about 10,000 people pre‑registered and that he expected many more applicants. He said he anticipated selling thousands of cards over time and raising “billions” of dollars. Lutnick characterized Gold Card recipients as economic contributors and contrasted them with what he called “average” Green Card holders, claiming they earn less and are more likely to receive public assistance; the administration did not provide evidence to support that comparison.
The rollout comes as the administration pursues a broad crackdown on illegal immigration—deporting hundreds of thousands—and has taken steps aimed at reducing some forms of legal immigration. Officials present the Gold Card as a revenue‑generating counterbalance. The program also includes a corporate option allowing companies to obtain expedited visas for employees in exchange for a $2 million contribution per worker.
