Could Trump’s “Gold Card” signal the end for the EB-5 Investor Visa?
President Trump’s proposed “Gold Card” visa could reshape US investment immigration. Will it replace the EB-5 visa? Learn what this means for investors and why acting now on the EB-5 may be the best move.
Sarah Young ● Mar 5, 2025
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Last week President Trump announced his intention to create a new “Gold Card” visa route into the USA, offering wealthy investors the option to fast track to lawful permanent residency and a Green Card. With a premium investment price tag of $5 million, it is not yet clear how the funds would need to be invested, and it has been suggested that the funds from this new programme could be prioritised as capital for government use to reduce the US deficit.
The unexpected announcement caught most stakeholders within the investment migration space off-guard. Particularly as the USA already has a long-standing and very successful residency-by-investment programme in the form of the EB-5 Investor Visa.
Established in 1990, and currently re-authorised and valid until 30 September 2027, the EB-5 has generated $55.2 billion of capital investment, supporting economic growth in the US and all at no cost to the US taxpayer.
In addition to this, a key requirement of the EB-5 is that the capital from each investor generates a minimum of 10 full-time jobs for US workers – the EB-5 has directly resulted in the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs since its inception.
The current minimum investment for EB-5 is $800,000, which is a walk in the park when compared to the $5 million Gold Card.
So, will the Gold Card formally replace the US EB-5? It’s unlikely.
Could the Gold Card become an exclusive option, offered as an alternative and offered alongside the EB-5 in a parallel category? Possibly.
However, nothing is certain.
While the situation is evolving day-by-day, it is important to note that the President cannot shut down a US immigration process without the approval of the House and the Senate. Only Congress can change US immigration laws.
If sabotage of the EB-5 was on the agenda, Trump does however have the power to slow down EB-5 processing times, to reallocate EB-5 adjudicators to other visa streams, to enforce stricter Source of Funds and to propose a raise to the current EB-5 minimum investment threshold.
What should prospective EB-5 investors do now?
We can confirm that we are operating with no hesitation under the existing EB-5 legislation, as promulgated by the Reform and Integrity Act (RIA) of March 2022.
If you are committed to the idea of securing you and your family with Green Cards via the current EB-5 programme, then we would recommend that you act now.
Why use Sable International?
We offer a fully comprehensive US EB-5 service and are proud to partner with the market-leader of EB-5 regional centre operators who boasts over twenty-five years of experience.
Through this regional centre, we introduce you to qualifying investment projects which have undergone a rigorous underwriting process, to mitigate your financial risk as an investor, and to give you the greatest likelihood of securing your Green Cards by creating the minimum 10 required jobs per investor.
Secure your American Dream with an US $800,000 investment!