WASHINGTON, D.C.:President Donald Trump has defended his newly launched “Trump Gold Card” visa, arguing that it will finally allow American companies to retain top foreign graduates who are currently required to return home after completing their studies in the United States. Calling the existing system “a shame,” Trump said students from countries like India, China and France often leave the U.S. despite earning degrees from elite universities.
The Gold Card programme — unveiled at a White House roundtable alongside IBM CEO Arvind Krishna and Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell — grants a fast-track pathway to U.S. residency for those who can provide what the administration calls “substantial benefit” to the country.
“You graduate No. 1, and you’re thrown out”
Trump argued that American companies routinely lose top talent because immigration rules make it “very hard to stay” after graduation.
“They finish at the top of their class — Wharton, Harvard, MIT — and then they have to go back to India or China,” Trump said. “It’s ridiculous. We’re fixing that.”
He claimed CEOs, including Apple’s Tim Cook, have repeatedly complained about not being able to keep highly skilled graduates in the U.S.
How the Gold Card Works
The newly launched website, Trumpcard.gov, allows individuals and companies to apply for the fast-track visa. The programme includes:
- USD 15,000 processing fee to DHS
- USD 1 million “contribution” for individual applicants after background vetting
- USD 2 million fee for companies seeking to retain high-skill foreign hires
- A pathway to citizenship after five years for approved applicants
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the vetting process would be “full” and “best in class,” adding that only applicants who “absolutely qualify to be in America” will be approved.
“For companies, one card keeps one employee in the U.S. for a long period,” Lutnick explained. “After five years, when that person becomes eligible for citizenship, the company can assign someone new to the card.”
“Better than a green card”
Throughout the event, Trump described the Gold Card as a superior alternative to traditional permanent residency.
“This is basically a much better form of green card,” Trump said. “A green card is impossible to get. This is stronger, more powerful, and gives companies certainty.”
He said the programme will also bring in “many billions of dollars,” calling the contribution a “gift to the United States.”
Business Community Welcomes Certainty
Executives present at the roundtable said the uncertainty around existing visa rules often complicates hiring decisions. Trump said companies previously sent recruits to Canada or Europe due to U.S. immigration restrictions.
Under the Gold Card system, he said, employers can finally hire top American-educated talent without fearing that workers might be forced out of the country.
Part of a Broader Immigration Strategy
The administration is positioning the Gold Card as a tool to attract only what Trump calls the “best people,” contrasting it with traditional green card pathways.
Lutnick echoed this, saying that on average, green card holders earned less and were more likely to depend on government assistance — a claim he did not provide data for. The Gold Card, he said, ensures “elite talent” is prioritised.
Website Goes Live
The Gold Card application portal went live Wednesday afternoon, promising “U.S. residency in record time.” The website encourages both individuals and corporations to apply immediately.
With the programme now formally launched, the administration is expected to promote the visa globally as a premium pathway to American residency — one with a million-dollar price tag and a clear target audience: high-earning, highly skilled professionals and the companies eager to hire them.
