Trump's $1M Gold Card visa fails to attract applicants
What's the story
US President Donald Trump's $1 million "Gold Card" visa program has failed to generate interest among potential applicants. Nearly a week after the Trump administration opened applications, it has attracted little attention. Immigration experts have pointed out several reasons for this lack of interest, including vague application guidelines and legal ambiguity.
Alternative suggestion
Immigration experts recommend EB-5 program over gold card
Keshav Singhania, Head - Private Client at Singhania & Co, said the Gold Card's instructions are "loosely worded" with no clear path to permanent residency or citizenship. Poorvi Chothani, a leading immigration lawyer, also advised clients to consider the EB-5 category instead of the Gold Card. She said they haven't received any queries about the program and expect clients to prefer EB-5 due to its established pathway and lesser legal uncertainties.
Established preference
EB-5 program remains popular among high-net-worth individuals
The EB-5 investor visa program is a popular choice among high-net-worth individuals from India and China. Under this scheme, investors are required to invest $800,000 in a targeted employment area or $1.05 million elsewhere while creating at least 10 full-time jobs. The investment covers the entire family, making it more appealing than the Gold Card's requirement of $1 million per family member plus processing fees.
Audience focus
Gold card's target audience and EB-5's demand
Shilpa Malik, Managing Attorney at VisaLaw Nation, said the Gold Card's potential takers would be ultra-high-net-worth individuals who value long-term US access and brand association more than immediate immigration outcomes. However, this is a very narrow audience for the program. In contrast, the EB-5 program continues to see strong demand from India and China with 10,000 visas issued annually (including dependents).