On February 25, local time, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the launch of a new immigration program called the "Gold Card." This program will provide foreign investors with a direct path to U.S. citizenship for a fee of $5 million. Trump stated that this project, dubbed the "Gold Card," will be launched within two weeks. This news immediately caused a massive stir in the immigration and investment sectors.
"We are going to sell a Gold Card. You have a Green Card. This is a Gold Card. We are going to price this card at about $5 million, which will give you Green Card privileges, and in addition, it is a path to citizenship. Wealthy people will enter our country by purchasing this card. They will become wealthy, they will be successful, they will spend a lot of money, pay a lot of taxes, hire a lot of people, and we think this will be very successful," said Trump.
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick told reporters in the Oval Office that the Trump administration would terminate the existing EB-5 visa program, while President Trump declared that the new visa would boost economic development.
With the Trump administration announcing the upcoming launch of the new "Gold Card" investment immigration program, the future of the EB-5 investment immigration project has become uncertain. This "Gold Card" program requires investors to pay $5 million directly to the U.S. government to obtain residency similar to a Green Card, with the potential to eventually obtain citizenship. However, this change means that EB-5 investment immigration may be cancelled, and whether investors already participating in the EB-5 program can continue to enjoy existing policies has become the primary concern for investors.
EB-5 Immigration May Be Cancelled, Existing Investors May Be Protected by the "Grandfather Clause"
As everyone knows, the current EB-5 program was reauthorized in 2022. According to the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, the EB-5 program has been explicitly written into law and includes a "Grandfather Clause" that protects all EB-5 applications submitted before September 30, 2026, from being affected by future changes in laws and policies. This means that EB-5 applications submitted before the legal changes remain protected, and investors can still complete the immigration process according to the original policy.
Why is now the best time to submit an EB-5 application?
● Grandfather Clause Protection: For clients who have already invested and submitted their EB-5 applications, their Green Card applications should be legally protected from future policy changes.
● Increased Future Policy Uncertainty: If the EB-5 program is terminated, the threshold for future investment immigration will be significantly raised, such as the "Gold Card" program's direct requirement of a $5 million payment, rather than obtaining a Green Card through job creation.
● Policy Change Window Closing Soon: The Trump administration plans to launch the new policy within two weeks, so for investors interested in immigrating through EB-5, now may be the last opportunity.
How should investors act?
For investors still considering immigrating to the United States, now is a critical moment to submit an EB-5 application. Due to the existence of the Grandfather Clause, submitted applications can still be processed according to current regulations and will not be affected by future policies. Therefore:
• Clients who have completed their investment: Ensure all documents are complete and submit the application as soon as possible to ensure your rights and interests are not affected by the new policy.
• Clients who are considering it: Based on the current rules of the EB-5 program and the protection of the Grandfather Clause, you should submit your application as early as possible to avoid future uncertainty.
Key Differences Between "Gold Card" and EB-5 Immigration
This new policy from the Trump administration indicates that U.S. investment immigration policy is undergoing significant changes. Compared to EB-5, the newly launched "Gold Card" program has a higher threshold, and specific details are not yet clear. For those interested in immigrating to the U.S. through investment, now may be the last opportunity to submit an EB-5 application to ensure protection under current policies. As time passes, this window may close quickly; seizing the opportunity is crucial, and submitting as early as possible may be the best choice.
Currently, the quota for rural projects in the EB-5 reserved visa category is more abundant, making it the preferred choice among the best options for quickly obtaining a U.S. Green Card. The two high-quality, best-selling EB-5 rural projects on the market with approved I-956F, the "Aspen Kodiak Apartments" and the "Hawaii Greystone Resort Hotel," are both premium EB-5 rural projects that have been screened and strictly vetted by the WorldWay Group, making them excellent choices for your quick immigration to the United States.
