US government launches golden visa scheme
The scheme allows wealthy individuals and corporate employees to rapidly gain US residency, following the payment of a large sum of money
The US government has launched a new golden visa programme, offering fast-tracked visas to applicants who pay a contribution of at least $1 million.
Known as the Trump Gold Card, the scheme offers US residency “in record time”. Alongside the $1 million contribution, applicants must also pay a $15,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) processing fee, and receive background approval.
Alternatively, for a Corporate Gold Card, a corporate sponsor can pay the $15,000 DHS processing fee for one of its employees, with a $2 million contribution payable upon completion. Corporate sponsors can sponsor multiple employees at once.
The Gold Card website also mentions a not-yet-launched Platinum Card scheme, which, when launched, would allow foreign nationals to spend up to 270 days in the US without being subject to US taxes on non-US income, following the receipt of the $15,000 DHS fee and a $5 million contribution.
The launch of the golden visa programme comes at a time when the US government is otherwise intensifying its efforts to discourage immigration, including escalating the deportation of undocumented migrants and raising work visa fees.
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