Wealthy foreigners able to register for Trump’s $5 million ‘gold card’ visa within a week, said Lutnick

Foreign nationals with $5 million to spare will soon be able to register for a new “gold card” visa that would give them the right to live and work permanently in the United States, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Wednesday.

“I expect there will be a website up called ‘Trump card dot gov’ in about a week,” Lutnick said at Axios’ “Building the Future” event in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. “The details of that will come soon after, but people can start to register.”

Further information about the visa program will come in the next few weeks, he added.

Lutnick has said the card would replace the government’s EB-5 immigrant investor visa program, which grants green cards to immigrants who make a comparatively smaller investment of $1.8 million into the US or $900,000 into economically distressed zones.

On Wednesday, Lutnick suggested there is already strong interest in the new visa program, saying that on a recent trip to the Middle East he was already “selling” cards.

“Basically, everyone I meet who is not an American is going to want to buy this card if they have the fiscal capacity,” Lutnick said.

The new “gold card” visa program was first proposed in February by President Donald Trump.

“We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million and that’s going to give you green card privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to citizenship. And wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card,” Trump said from the Oval Office in February.

Immigration law experts have warned that creating a new visa requires approval from Congress, though.

On Wednesday, Lutnick said the “gold card” program could help pay down the US federal debt, which currently totals over $36 trillion.

“These are going to be great people who are going to come and bring businesses and opportunity to America, and they’re going to pay $5 million,” Lutnick said. “If there are 200,000 people who pay, that’s a trillion dollars. That pays for everything.”

Source : https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/21/business/us-gold-card-investor-visa

Comprehension

What is the minimum investment required to qualify for the new “gold card” visa?
Who announced the details of the new visa program?
What website will be launched for the visa registration?
What current visa program is the “gold card” expected to replace?
What is the investment amount required under the EB-5 program for economically distressed zones?
Who first proposed the “gold card” visa?
What privileges does the “gold card” visa offer?
What potential benefit of the visa program did Lutnick mention regarding U.S. debt?
How many foreign nationals did Lutnick estimate might purchase the card?
What legal concern did immigration experts raise about the new visa?

Discussion

Do you think it's fair to offer permanent residency and a path to citizenship in exchange for a large investment? Why or why not?
How might a program like this impact regular immigration processes or public opinion?
What are the possible advantages and disadvantages of replacing the EB-5 visa program with the gold card?
Should wealth play a role in immigration eligibility? What are the implications?
Could this visa program help or harm America’s image internationally? Explain.
How do you think middle-class or low-income immigrants might view a program like this?
Is paying off national debt through immigration fees a good strategy? Why or why not?
What ethical concerns might arise from “selling” citizenship or permanent residency?
If you had the opportunity to immigrate through investment, would you take it? Why?
How should Congress respond to such proposals that may bypass legislative approval?

Vocabulary

Visa – An official document or stamp allowing someone to enter or stay in a country.
Immigrant investor – A person who gains residency or citizenship by investing a certain amount of money in a country.
Green card – A document that allows a person to live and work permanently in the U.S.
Economically distressed zones – Areas with low income or high unemployment that receive special investment incentives.
Fiscal capacity – The ability to afford something financially.
Route to citizenship – A legal pathway by which a person can become a citizen of a country.
Privileges – Special rights or advantages given to a person or group.
Congress – The legislative branch of the U.S. government, responsible for making laws.
Federal debt – The total amount of money the U.S. government owes.
Legislative approval – Permission or agreement from a law-making body to implement new laws or policies.