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Understanding the Trump Card Visa Initiative

A New Pathway for Wealthy Foreign Investors

Understanding the Trump Card Visa Initiative

  • 22 Jun, 2025
  • 473

What is the 'Trump Card' Scheme?

The 'Trump Card' scheme is a new visa initiative introduced by the Trump administration aimed at wealthy foreigners seeking permanent residency in the United States. To obtain a green card, applicants must purchase a golden "Trump Card" for $5 million.

What Does the Card Promise?

The Trump Card offers several advantages, including U.S. permanent residency, work rights, and a potential pathway to citizenship, eliminating the lengthy procedures typically associated with immigration. This scheme is specifically designed for individuals or businesses willing to make significant financial contributions to the U.S. Treasury.

How is This Different from Traditional Immigrant Investor Visas?

The Trump Card is expected to replace the EB-5 visa, which is a legal program granting U.S. residency to foreign investors who invest at least $1 million in a business that creates U.S. jobs (or $800,000 in targeted areas). Unlike the EB-5, the Trump Card does not require business investment or job creation; instead, it necessitates a direct payment to the government.

Why Was This Scheme Launched?

The primary objective of the Trump Card scheme is to address the U.S. budget deficit and national debt. The administration claims that the issuance of 200,000 cards could potentially generate $1 trillion for the Treasury. President Trump emphasized that the cards would attract prosperous, tax-paying individuals who would positively impact the U.S. economy.

What Has the Response Been So Far?

According to the Secretary of Commerce, approximately 70,000 individuals have already expressed interest in the Trump Card through a dedicated government website established for this initiative.

What Are the Legal and Practical Challenges?

Experts have raised several concerns regarding the Trump Card:

  • Not Approved by U.S. Congress: The Trump Card has not received legislative approval.
  • No Return on Payment: The $5 million is a donation rather than an investment, unlike the EB-5 program.
  • Legality Questioned: Immigration lawyers argue that the President lacks the authority to create such a visa class unilaterally.
  • Unrealistic Sales Target: Experts question whether the government can sell one million of these cards.

Is This a Legitimate Path to U.S. Residency?

Currently, there is no legal framework supporting the Trump Card. It has not been validated by Congress and may encounter legal hurdles. Existing immigration laws do not permit permanent residency solely through donations.

What is the EB-5 Program and How Does It Work?

The EB-5 visa program is a well-established U.S. immigration scheme that grants green cards to foreign nationals who:

  • Invest at least $1 million in a commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs;
  • Invest $800,000 in a Targeted Employment Area, which is typically a rural region or an area with high unemployment.

Last year, over 14,000 visas were granted through this regulated route.

Who Benefits from the Trump Card if Implemented?

If implemented, the Trump Card would primarily benefit wealthy individuals or business owners willing to pay $5 million directly to the U.S. government. This approach circumvents traditional eligibility criteria, such as employment sponsorship, family connections, or humanitarian considerations.

What is the Official Website for Inquiries?

The official website for the Trump Card scheme is trumpcard.gov, where applicants can register their interest as individuals or businesses and await further guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the main goal of the Trump Card scheme?
Answer: The primary goal of the Trump Card scheme is to reduce the U.S. budget deficit and national debt by generating significant revenue through the sale of these cards.

Q2. How much does the Trump Card cost?
Answer: The Trump Card requires a payment of $5 million, which is classified as a donation to the government rather than an investment.

Q3. Is the Trump Card legally recognized?
Answer: Currently, the Trump Card lacks legal recognition as it has not been legislated by Congress and may face legal challenges.

Q4. How does the Trump Card compare to the EB-5 visa?
Answer: Unlike the EB-5 visa, which requires investment in a business that creates jobs, the Trump Card only requires a monetary contribution without job creation.

Q5. Where can I find more information about the Trump Card?
Answer: More information is available at the official website trumpcard.gov, where interested parties can register and receive updates.

UPSC Practice MCQs

Question 1: What is the cost of the Trump Card?
A) $1 million
B) $2 million
C) $5 million
D) $10 million
Correct Answer: C

Question 2: Which program does the Trump Card aim to replace?
A) H-1B Visa
B) EB-5 Visa
C) L-1 Visa
D) O-1 Visa
Correct Answer: B

 

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