Donald Trump unveils ‘Trump Gold Card’ visa to retain skilled global talent
US President Donald Trump has announced a new immigration initiative, the “Trump Gold Card”, designed to end what he called a “ridiculous” system that forces highly skilled foreign graduates to leave the United States after completing their studies.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said the new programme would finally allow US companies to hire and retain top international students from leading institutions such as Harvard, MIT and Wharton, many of whom currently face years-long immigration uncertainty.
Calling the existing system “a shame”, Trump said, “They graduate from our great colleges and then have to go back to India, China, France—wherever they came from. Very hard to stay. It’s ridiculous. We’re taking care of that.”
The Gold Card programme, Trump said, will give US employers “certainty” in hiring highly trained graduates who often finish at the top of their class but are unable to secure long-term residency.
According to Trump, the Gold Card website is now live, and companies can purchase the card to retain skilled workers in the US.
Trump revealed that business leaders, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, had repeatedly raised concerns about losing top talent due to visa restrictions.
“You graduate number one in your class, and there’s no way to guarantee you can stay in the country,” Trump said, adding that many companies were forced to send these workers to Canada or elsewhere.
He claimed the new system would not only address this talent drain but also generate “billions of dollars” in revenue for the US.
How the Gold Card works
US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said the Gold Card would cost $1 million for individuals and $2 million for corporations.
The programme includes a $15,000 comprehensive vetting process, which Lutnick described as “the best vetting the government has ever done”, ensuring candidates “absolutely qualify” for US residency.
Once issued, the Gold Card grants Long-term employment-linked residency, a pathway to citizenship in five years, and the ability for companies to substitute another employee on the card in the future.
Lutnick said the system uses existing visa categories but ensures they are “filled with the best people”, adding that the average green-card holder currently earns less than the average American and is more likely to depend on federal assistance programmes.
“This is a gift to the United States of America,” Lutnick said. “It will help America be great again under President Trump.”
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