U.S. nets $5 billion in one day with new $5 million golden visa program 

The initiative, proposed by Donald Trump shortly after his return to the White House, serves as an alternative to the EB-5 visa program. These new "golden cards" target wealthy foreigners eager to live in the U.S. and invest in its economy.

"By the way, yesterday I sold 1,000 'golden cards,'" Lutnick said on the All-In podcast. He noted that approximately 37 million people worldwide could afford such a visa, and Trump is confident that the U.S. could eventually sell a million of them.

Each card grants permanent residency without requiring citizenship. "If I were a foreigner, I’d buy these cards for myself, my wife, and my kids — just in case something, God forbid, goes wrong," Lutnick added.

As a result, $5 billion flowed into the U.S. Treasury in a single day. The funds will be directed toward reducing the national debt, which has climbed to $36.2 trillion. If the program meets its ambitious target, it could generate up to $5 trillion for the government.

To streamline applicant vetting, Elon Musk’s team is developing a digital platform. According to Lutnick, it will launch in two weeks and "perform checks better than the government ever has — in one second."

Trump previously explained that the program is designed for "rich and successful" individuals willing to pay taxes and create jobs. He also suggested that Russian business tycoons might be among the buyers: "I know a few Russian oligarchs who are really nice people."

The predecessor EB-5 visa, introduced in 1990, allowed applicants to secure a green card by investing around $1 million and creating 10 jobs. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022, about 4,000 people obtained investment visas, with nearly as many renewing them.