Trump floats $5m gold card visa for foreigners seeking US citizenship

Trump floats $5m gold card visa for foreigners seeking US citizenship

 

United States President Donald Trump has announced a $5 million “gold card” visa for wealthy foreign investors seeking American citizenship.

The programme could be launched within two weeks and sale to begin immediately, Trump said.

Speaking at the Oval Office on Tuesday, the US President hinted that millions of such cards could be sold.

“You have a green card. This is a gold card. 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,” he said.

“And wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card.

“They’ll be wealthy, and they’ll be successful, and they’ll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes.”

This is coming as Trump ramps up his drive to sweep the US clean of illegal immigrants.

Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, who stood beside Trump, said the card would replace the government’s EB-5 immigrant investor visa programme.

The current EB-5 immigrant investor visa gives permanent residency to foreigners who invest at least $1.05 million in a new business that creates jobs — or $800,000 if the business is in a rural or high unemployment area.