The U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, said on Wednesday, February 26th, that currently 250,000 people are waiting to receive the “gold cards” as mentioned by President Trump. President Trump has referred to them as an alternative to the EB-5 investor visa.
During an interview on Fox News Channel’s “Special Report,” Lutnick expressed that this program has the potential to generate enough funds to repay the country’s debt. He stated, “There are now 250,000 people waiting in line, and if they are willing to pay $5 million, that’s over a trillion dollars, close to $1.25 trillion.”
He anticipated that the number of applicants would be enormous because these individuals recognize the United States as the “greatest country on earth.” He added, “These people will become great global citizens, bringing entrepreneurial spirit, skills, and growth to America… they will also contribute taxes to the United States, which is a significant amount of money for the country.”
Lutnick emphasized that all those waiting in line will undergo scrutiny.
President Trump announced on Tuesday that he intends to reform the U.S. investor visa program, increasing the required fund amount for securing residency. He referred to this new immigration policy as the “gold card,” likening it to an upgraded version of the “green card.” He explained, “This card will grant you the privileges of a green card and serve as your pathway to citizenship.”
(This article references a report from “The Hill”)