The U.S. administration has announced the launch of a program allowing individuals to obtain permanent residency in exchange for an investment of approximately five million dollars. Named the "golden card," this initiative aims to attract wealthy individuals to stimulate the American economy.

During an official statement from the White House, the U.S. president explained that this program would welcome prosperous investors who would contribute to economic growth by spending, paying taxes, and creating jobs. "These wealthy and successful people will invest and spend significantly in the United States," he stated.

This program could potentially attract Russian business figures, some of whom have faced international sanctions in recent years. When questioned on the matter, the president suggested that certain individuals might be eligible. "I know several oligarchs who are excellent people," he remarked, adding that their participation in the program was a possibility.

An alternative to an existing program

This initiative would replace an investment program in place for several decades, known as EB-5, which allowed foreign nationals to obtain a green card by investing a specific amount in the U.S. However, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated that the EB-5 program had too many shortcomings, particularly regarding fraud, and needed to be replaced with a more stringent and profitable system.

"The previous program had become a way to obtain a green card at a lower cost, so we will eliminate it and replace it with the golden card," he announced from the Oval Office, alongside the president. This new initiative aligns with the broader goal of the U.S. administration to strengthen immigration controls.

An opportunity for major corporations

According to Donald Trump, this new residency card will help attract talent in strategic sectors, particularly in information technology and innovation. He suggested that large companies could finance the acquisition of these golden cards for their employees.

"Major companies like Apple and others will be able to purchase these cards to attract skilled workers," he explained, clarifying that recipients of these visas would not automatically become U.S. citizens but would still contribute financially to the country's economy.

The presidential administration hopes to sell up to one million of these cards, or even more, to generate substantial revenue. The head of state even mentioned the possibility of issuing up to 10 million residency permits, which he claimed could help reduce the national deficit.

A model adopted worldwide

Investment visas are not a new concept and are already implemented in multiple countries around the world. Nations such as the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Malta, Australia, Canada, and Italy have established similar programs to attract wealthy foreign investors.

The U.S. president presented the golden card as a sophisticated evolution of the green card, offering a path to citizenship for affluent individuals or highly skilled workers sponsored by companies seeking to bring them to the United States.

While the granting of citizenship is determined by Congress, the president asserted that the introduction of these new golden cards would not require congressional approval, suggesting that the administration could proceed independently on this matter.

This initiative has already sparked debates, particularly concerning fairness in access to U.S. residency and its broader impact on the immigration system. It remains to be seen whether this policy of attracting wealthy individuals will be perceived as an effective economic strategy or as a privilege for the rich at the expense of other immigration applicants.