United States President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the US will offer for sale a "golden card" to wealthy foreigners, which would give them the right to live and work in the US, as well as a path to citizenship, in exchange for a $5 million fee.
“We’re going to sell a golden card,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “It will have all the privileges of a green card, but with more benefits and opportunities for citizenship.” He added that sales of these cards would begin within two weeks and that millions of such cards could be sold.
Asked if this could include Russian oligarchs, Trump replied: "Yeah, maybe. I know some Russian oligarchs who are very good people."
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explained that this initiative will replace the existing EB-5 program, which allows foreign investors to obtain green cards if they invest at least $1,050,000 in projects that create jobs in the U.S., or $800,000 in economically distressed areas.
"Of course, buyers will go through a rigorous vetting process to ensure they are responsible, world-class global citizens," Lutnick said.
This proposal has caused mixed reactions, with some seeing it as a way to bring large investments to the country and others criticizing it as a system that favors the wealthy in the immigration process.
