In a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy, President Donald Trump has unveiled a new “Gold Card” visa program, offering permanent residency and a pathway to citizenship for a $5 million fee. This initiative is set to replace the existing EB-5 investor visa program, which has been a popular route for many Indian nationals seeking U.S. green cards.

Key Features of the Gold Card Visa:

Investment Requirement: Applicants must invest $5 million, a substantial increase from the EB-5’s $800,000 to $1.05 million range.

Job Creation: Unlike the EB-5, the Gold Card does not mandate the creation of U.S. jobs.

Pathway to Citizenship: Holders receive green card privileges with an expedited route to U.S. citizenship.

Indian investors have been significant participants in the EB-5 program, especially among H-1B visa holders seeking permanent residency. The introduction of the Gold Card visa presents both opportunities and challenges:

For the Ultra-Wealthy: Affluent Indian entrepreneurs and business magnates now have a faster, albeit more expensive, route to U.S. residency.

For Middle-Class Professionals: The steep $5 million requirement may render this option inaccessible, limiting pathways for skilled professionals who previously considered the EB-5 visa.

Reason behind the shift:
The EB-5 program, established in 1990, aimed to stimulate the U.S. economy through foreign investments tied to job creation. However, it has faced criticism for alleged inefficiencies and misuse. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the EB-5 as “full of nonsense, make-believe, and fraud,” advocating for its replacement with the Gold Card visa to attract high-net-worth individuals without the complexities of job creation mandates.

while the Gold Card visa offers a streamlined path to U.S. residency for India’s elite, it also underscores the growing emphasis on wealth-based immigration, potentially sidelining skilled professionals who have been integral to the U.S. workforce.

also read: World War 3 is not far away: Donald Trump

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