Costly shortcut trapped in endless backlogs
The much-anticipated “Gold Card”, offering US citizenship that President Donald Trump first announced in September, has now been formally launched. Under the new scheme, wealthy individuals can obtain legal residency in the United States, effectively a green card by paying $1 million (₹9.044 crore) to the US government.
The rollout comes at a time when Washington is tightening its policies on both legal and illegal immigration. Yet, within days of the announcement, concerns have grown that the offer may be particularly disadvantageous for Indians hoping to settle in America.
What exactly is the ‘Gold Card’?
The initiative is pitched as a fast-track route to citizenship for high-net-worth individuals, offering an alternative to the existing investor visas. Previously, foreigners were required to invest $1 million in an American business and create at least ten jobs.
Under the Gold Card scheme, applicants must contribute $1 million to the US government. According to the official portal, those who pay an additional $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security and clear a background check can secure residency “in record time”.
Companies may also sponsor foreign workers by paying $2 million (₹18.088 crore), but only after the government confirms the candidate will “substantially benefit” the United States. The website emphasises that “applicants must be eligible for lawful permanent resident status, admissible to the United States, and a visa must be available.”
It further warns: “The Trump Gold Card is a visa; therefore, national security and significant criminal risks are a basis for revocation.”
Once approved, recipients obtain the same permanent resident status offered to those under the EB-1 and EB-2 employment-based categories.
Why backlogs make the scheme risky
While the programme appears straightforward, the reality is more complex — and far less promising for Indians. Despite the promise of swift processing, Gold Card holders must still apply under the existing EB-1 or EB-2 categories, both of which face severe backlogs due to annual caps on green cards.
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The EB-1 category applies to priority workers such as those with “extraordinary ability” in fields including science, art, business or sport, as well as outstanding professors and multinational executives. The EB-2 group includes professionals with advanced degrees or “exceptional ability”.
Under US law, only 140,000 green cards can be issued each year and no country may receive more than 7 per cent of the total. This has created enormous delays, particularly for India.
At present, the EB-1 category is processing applications filed on or before April 2023. The situation is far worse for Indians in EB-2, where authorities are dealing with cases from May 2013.
In effect, a Gold Card applicant could wait years for EB-1 approval and decades for EB-2.
Why Indian families are being warned
Immigration experts are already cautioning prospective applicants. New York–based attorney Cyrus D. Mehta told The Times of India:
“If you are born in India, beware of Trump’s Gold Card, as you will be stuck in the India EB-1 or EB-2 backlogs for years and even decades after you have shelled out $1 million or more and won’t see your green card for a very long time or never.”
This means that despite the hefty price tag, Indians may gain little more than a long wait and substantial uncertainty.
The bottom line
For many families, what is being marketed as a golden opportunity may be anything but. The Gold Card offers a costly shortcut that still funnels applicants into a clogged immigration system — one particularly unforgiving to Indians. In this context, the scheme risks appearing less like a path to the American dream and more like a high-priced gamble with no guaranteed reward.
(With inputs from agencies)