The United States has been one of the top destinations for international students from all over the world looking for quality education along with career opportunities after studying in the USA. The US has historically tracked work opportunities while studying in the country, such as creating potential pathways into H-1B jobs through Optional Practical Training (OPT) with F-1 student visas. However, recent developments, notably President Donald Trump’s proposed “Gold Card” visa, suggest that studying in the USA may no longer be the sole route to securing US work opportunities.
What is the Gold Card Visa?
On February 25, 2025, President Trump proposed a new immigration initiative to attract wealthy foreign investors by offering a pathway to U.S. residency and citizenship. He stated, “We are going to be selling a Gold Card. We are going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million. It’s going to give you Green Card privileges, plus it’s going to be a route to American citizenship, and wealthy people would be coming into our country by buying this card.”
The proposal may eliminate the EB-5 immigrant investor program, which had a minimum investment requirement of $1,050,000 or $800,000 (in targeted employment sectors) and the creation of at least ten jobs for U.S. workers.
The Gold Card visa, by contrast, would require a direct payment of $5 million to the U.S. government, eliminating the job creation mandate.
Implications for International Students and Professionals
The launch of the Gold Card Visa could have several implications:
- Alternative Path: For wealthy individuals, the Gold Card visa offers a straightforward path to obtaining residency without the obligation to obtain a U.S. education or deal with the complexities of employment-based visas.
- Impact on H-1B Visa Holders: The H-1B visa program has long been a treasure trove for US businesses to acquire specialist skills abroad. Such annual limits and tedious processes for employers to meet and for candidates to go through while receiving program invitations are frustrating for both parties. The Gold Card visa adds a new, but exclusive, path. While this option may take some pressure off the H-1B system, it is unlikely to greatly reduce demand for H-1B sponsorships, as the high financial barrier to entry for this option means it is not available to the general public.
- Change in Immigration Priorities: Also, the Gold Card visa is a watershed for US immigration policy that favors wealth over work experience and academic merit. You are an immigrant if you have a million dollars, and you are not an immigrant if you do not have a million dollars.
- Financial Barriers: And for $5 million, the Gold Card visa is out of reach for most potential immigrants, essentially reserving this route for an elite group. This high financial threshold can potentially increase the gap between affluent applicants and others, creating questions regarding equity and the principles guiding immigration policies.
A Paradigm Shift in Immigration Policy
President Trump’s proposal marks a sharp turnaround from his previous hardline views on immigration. In 2024, he argued that we should just issue green cards automatically to foreign students in American colleges because we have realized how valuable it is to keep highly skilled talent in the country. He said, “What I’d like to do, and what I’ll do, when you graduate from a college, is that I believe that you should be automatically, included with your diploma, given a green card to be able to stay in this nation.” This measure is intended to avoid the deportation of talented persons who, through visa limitations, could otherwise depart for their nations of origin and become productive participants in foreign economies.
Financial Implications and National Debt
The program has been estimated by the administration to make huge revenue, and as many as one million visas might be sold, raising trillions of dollars to repay the national debt. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has explained that 250,000 people are currently waiting to receive the opportunity to purchase these Gold Cards, which may yield revenue worth $1.25 trillion. Nonetheless, critics argue that these projections are unrealistic and raise ethical issues regarding the commercialization of citizenship. Past data from comparable programs in the U.K. and Australia indicate that interest may at best reach several hundred applications per annum, thus not likely to raise the hoped-for revenue.
Potential Challenges and Criticisms
Although the Gold Card visa is intended to attract substantial foreign investment, it has been viewed with suspicion:
- High Investment Requirement: The $5 million minimum requirement may discourage many potential candidates as previous programs with lower requirements have struggled to attract significant interest.
- Economic Impact: Economists also question the extent to which the program will be able to generate significant revenue, as it will also fail to attract foreign investors.
- Legal and Practical Barriers: Starting such a program without Congress’s permission could be legally challenged and is not considered feasible.
Impact on Indian Students and Professionals
India has traditionally been a major source of international students in the U.S. The Gold Card visa may impact this population in a variety of ways:
- Wealthy Students: Indian students who are wealthy may use the Gold Card visa to obtain residency without pursuing an education in the U.S., which may decrease the number of Indian students studying in the USA.
- Well-skilled People: Those who fail to secure the high level of investment could keep on turning towards conventional means like the H-1B visa, which will be an increasingly competitive alternative in case the Gold Card visa slows down aggregate demand.
Conclusion
The soon-to-be-introduced Gold Card visa is a significant change in U.S. immigration policy, with a focus on economic investment rather than educational or professional achievement. While it provides an alternative route for high-net-worth individuals, its implications for accessibility and the future of U.S. immigration remain questionable. International students and professionals considering studying in the USA or working in the United States must watch these developments closely to make the best informed choices regarding their academic and professional goals in the United States.
FAQ’s
1. What’s a ‘Gold Card’ Visa?
The Gold Card Visa is a US immigration program that offers permanent residency and citizenship to foreigners who invest $5 million.
2. What is the purpose of a gold card?
The gold card will provide a new pathway for wealthy non-U.S. citizens to obtain a legitimate visa to work and reside in the U.S., Mr. Trump said Tuesday of the new visa with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in the Oval Office. Each new visa will cost $5 million, Mr. Trump said.
3. How is it different from the EB-5 visa?
In contrast to the EB-5 visa, which demands a minimum investment of $1.8 million (or $900,000 in targeted employment areas) in a U.S. company that generates a minimum of ten full-time positions for U.S. employees, the ‘Gold Card’ visa demands a direct payment of $5 million to the U.S. government with no job creation conditions.
4. Who qualifies for the ‘Gold Card’ visa?
Any foreigner willing to invest $5 million may be eligible for a ‘Gold Card’ visa, provided a vetting process is completed to verify they are responsible global citizens.
5. Does the ‘Gold Card’ promise U.S. citizenship?
Though it offers a route towards citizenship, applicants must nonetheless fulfill all statutory requirements and go through the naturalization optapt.