ByKelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes Staff.
Last month, the U.S. government officially launched a new—and controversial—immigration program called the “gold card” visa initiative. Designed to replace or improve upon existing investor-based visa paths (notably the EB-5 visa, which grants a green card to foreign investors who invest and create jobs in a U.S. business), the gold card provides wealthy foreign nationals with a fast track to U.S. permanent residency—and potentially citizenship—in exchange for a significant financial investment.
In addition to the gold card, the government has also proposed a platinum card, aimed at high-net-worth individuals seeking more generous residency privileges and favorable tax treatment.
While the two programs share a common objective—to attract global capital into the U.S.—they differ significantly in cost, tax implications, and intended beneficiaries.
