Trump Introduces ‘Gold Card’ Visa to Retain Top Foreign Graduates in the United States
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 19: President Donald Trump holds up an executive order establishing the "Trump Gold Card" in the Oval Office at the White House on September 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump signed a series of executive orders establishing the “Trump Gold Card” and introducing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas. The "Trump Gold Card" is a visa program that allows foreign nationals permanent residency and a pathway to U.S. citizenship for a $1 million investment in the United States. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled a new visa initiative called the “Trump Gold Card,” a program aimed at keeping high-skilled international graduates in the country rather than sending them back home after completing their studies. The announcement came during a roundtable event where Trump argued that existing immigration rules push valuable talent out of the United States, including students from India, China, and numerous other nations.
The new visa offers a fast, financially driven pathway to long-term residency. Eligible applicants must pay a substantial fee, including a required contribution of $1 million to the U.S. government. A separate corporate tier priced at $2 million allows companies to sponsor foreign workers and later transfer the sponsorship to different employees if needed. Each applicant must also pay a $15,000 processing fee and clear federal background checks. The application portal, trumpcard.gov, has already been launched.
Reuters reports that Trump framed the program as an economic strategy, saying the United States should not lose graduates from institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and other elite universities. He criticized the current visa landscape as “ridiculous,” arguing that it discourages innovation and weakens U.S. competitiveness.
The proposal also responds directly to concerns voiced by major American corporations. Technology firms have long warned that uncertainty around work visas creates hiring difficulties. During the launch event, Trump cited repeated complaints from Apple CEO Tim Cook, noting that companies cannot plan confidently when foreign hires face uncertain immigration outcomes. Executives from IBM and Dell attended the announcement, underscoring corporate interest in a more predictable system.
Commerce adviser Howard Lutnick outlined the security and screening standards tied to the Gold Card, saying the process is designed to ensure that only top-tier candidates qualify. Successful applicants would gain a route to U.S. citizenship after five years, a timeline the administration argues is more efficient and economically beneficial than traditional green-card channels. Lutnick described the initiative as a tool to attract high-earning, highly skilled talent that can fuel national growth.
The Gold Card proposal represents a major shift in the United States’ approach to employment-based immigration. Whether it becomes a lasting feature of U.S. policy will depend on political approval, corporate adoption, and the legal challenges expected in the months ahead.
