This Friday, December 12, US President Donald Trump launched the accelerated processing of residence permits in the United States for “qualified and verified people” for one million dollars (more than 852 thousand euros, at the current exchange rate).
“The Trump gold card from the United States Government is already here”said the head of state on social media, according to the Spanish news agency Europa Press.
Trump described the program as “a direct path to citizenship for all qualified and verified people.”
The White House (presidency) explained that in exchange for one million dollars and another 15 thousand dollars in processing expenses, applicants will enter an accelerated process to receive residency “in record time”.
When the initiative was initially announced in February, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the golden visa would act as a replacement for the EB-5 visa reserved for foreign investors.
The Government’s website to apply for a new residence permit is named after Trump (and invites you to “unlock life in America”.
A “golden card” then appears with images of Trump’s face, the Statue of Liberty and an eagle, with the signature of the 45th and 47th President of the United States.
“The Trump Gold Card is a visa based on an individual’s ability to provide a substantial benefit to the United States,” reads the website.
In addition to the “gold card”, applications were also opened for the “platinum card”, which will cost five million dollars (4.2 million euros), in addition to the 15 thousand dollars processing fee from the Department of Homeland Security.
The advantage is that foreigners who buy the platinum Trump “will have the possibility of spending up to 270 days in the United States without being subject to US taxes on non-US income”.