The visa program “Golden Card”, promoted by President Donald Trump as a residence route for foreign investors, faces delays, low participation and legal questions, according to recent court documents and official statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Launched in December by the president Donald Trump, The initiative was presented as an accelerated residency scheme in exchange for a contribution of a million dollars to the American government. The program’s official site promised approval processes in “record time” and in a matter of weeks.
Only 338 requests
However, figures included in a true presentation of the DHS reveal that interest has been limited until now. Only 338 people have applied for the Gold Card and only 165 have paid the fee processing fee of $15,000.
In the same document, the immigration authority indicated that applicants will not necessarily receive faster processing that those who apply to traditional visaswhich contradicts the initial promises of the program.
“DHS stated that Gold Card applicants will not necessarily see their requests resolved faster than those of any other applicant.”is detailed in the file.
Initial pledges and fundraising goals
When it was announced, the program was presented as a tool to attract tens of thousands of foreign millionaires and billionaires to the United States.
At that time, the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnickestimated that up to 80,000 Gold Cards could be issued and that the program would generate more than $100 billion in revenue for the country.
Current debate over its implementation
The Golden Card was created by executive order and uses existing visa categories such as EB-1 and EB-2intended for people with extraordinary abilities or considered of national interest. Under this scheme, the payment of one million dollars automatically qualifies the applicant under those criteria.
However, a lawsuit filed by the American Association of University Professors maintains that the program could affect limited annual visa slots and displace other qualified applicants.
The litigation also questions its legality, arguing that the initiative could impact access to traditional visas. In response, the DHS affirmed that the Gold Card does not interfere with existing processessy that has deepest of own processing.
Crossed accusations
Craig Beckercurrent advisor to the Democracy Defense Fund for Affirmative Litigation, noted that the government’s positions reflect contradictions within the program.
According to Becker, the lack of clarity about the process creates uncertainty among applicants.
“We just don’t know what the proper response is because there is no transparency,” he said.
Limited interest among foreign investors
Immigration attorneys have noted that the combination of current uncertainty and unclear processing times has reduced the interest of high-net-worth investorswho prefer to wait for judicial resolutions or eventual legislative approval.
Some specialists indicate that the lack of an accelerated process reduces the attractiveness of the program compared to other residency options.
Investment visas
The debate occurs in a context of growing mobility of large fortunes internationally. According to estimates by Henley & Companions, it is projected that $165,000 millionaires could change countries in 2026, driven by factors such as geopolitical instability, fiscal burden and political conditions.
The United States continues to be an attractive destination for investors, although its EB-5 program, the main current scheme, faces waiting lists and delays.
EB-5 gains attention due to doubts about the Gold Card
The EB-5 program, which grants residency in exchange for investments of between $800,000 and $1 million dollars that generate jobs, has seen an increase in applications due to the uncertainty of the new scheme.
Immigration experts point out that, while the Gold Card still in dispute true and with low participation, the EB-5 maintains greater operational stability.
Perspectives of the migration sector
Immigration consultants have warned that the lack of certainty about processing times could continue to affect the adoption of the program.
“Without expedited processing, the Gold Card is unlikely to be attractive”said consultant Reaz Jafri.
Meanwhile, the future of the program will depend on its actual resolution and the level of confidence it manages to generate among foreign investors.
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