The Trump administration opened applications for its expedited visa program for wealthy foreign nationals on Dec. 10.
The Trump Gold Card program, overseen by the U.S. Department of Commerce, will allow noncitizens to attain expedited permanent residency status in the United States if they donate $1 million to the country, pass a background check, and pay a $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security, according to the website.
“It’ll take in, we think, probably billions of dollars that will go to the treasury of the United States, that will go to an account where we can do things [that are] positive for the country,” President Donald Trump said during a roundtable meeting with business leaders on Dec. 10.
The program isn’t just for individuals.
Businesses that want to keep talent will be able to apply for a Trump Corporate Gold Card if they donate $2 million to the United States and pay a $15,000 processing fee.
Trump said the corporate program will be very popular for companies looking to hire college graduates who were not born in the United States.
“You’re able to buy a card and keep that person in the United States,” he said.
“I’ve heard from a lot of people, some of the people at this table, that essentially, in the United States, you can’t keep the student. You can’t hire people from the best colleges because you don’t know whether or not you can keep the person.”
The Trump Corporate Gold Card will allow businesses “to transfer access from one employee and grant it to another with a small, 5 [percent] transfer fee, which includes the cost of a DHS background check,” the website states.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said all candidates will be vetted to make sure they “absolutely qualify” for the program, which will also give them a path to citizenship if they follow the law.
“After five years, they'll be available to become citizens,” he said.
“And then the corporation can put someone else on the card. So for a company, they can keep putting people on a card, one person per card. And for an individual, it’s a million dollars, and it’s a gift to the United States of America to help America be great again under Donald Trump.”
Businesses will have to pay an annual maintenance fee of 1 percent, which is $20,000.
The website states that a Trump Platinum Card is “coming soon.”
“Foreign nationals can sign up now and secure their places on the waiting list for the Trump Platinum Card,” it states.
“When launched, and upon receipt of a $15,000 DHS processing fee and $5 million contribution, they will have the ability to spend up to 270 days in the United States without being subject to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income.”














