President Donald Trump has proposed a $5 million "gold card" visa, making it one of the most expensive investment visas worldwide. This visa grants permanent U.S. residency and a path to citizenship. Demand for the program is already high among wealthy individuals as per American sources.
A major incentive of this visa is a tax loophole; gold-card holders won’t pay U.S. taxes on overseas income, unlike American citizens and green-card holders. This tax benefit makes U.S. residency more attractive to global millionaires, especially those with international businesses.
The gold card will replace the EB-5 visa program, which required investments of aound $1 million but faced fraud and delays. In contrast, this new visa aims to simplify entry for wealthy investors.
Experts predict thousands of applicants, particularly from China, India, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Though Trump claimed the U.S. could sell one million gold cards, legal analysts expect a smaller demand, perhaps a few thousand.
With 424,000 people worth $30 million globally, 277,000 ultra-wealthy individuals outside the U.S. could afford the program, though demand will likely be lower, analysts say.
Key Benefits of the U.S. Gold Visa:
- Permanent residency & pathway to citizenship
- No U.S. tax on overseas income
- Easier, faster alternative to EB-5 visa
- Exclusive opportunity for high-net-worth individuals
- Potential for increased investments in the U.S. economy
- Attractive for businesses hiring global talent
To put it briefly, from an Indian perspective, this visa benefits those who have already earned significantly in India and believe they can multiply their earnings in the USA, breaking even on their $5 million investment as quickly as possible.
