Saturday, March 29, 2025
1. Purpose & Nature
H-1B Visa: A temporary work visa that allows foreign professionals (mainly in tech and specialized fields) to work in the U.S.
Trump Gold Card: A fast-track citizenship/green card program proposed by Trump, tied to large-scale investments in the U.S. economy.
2. Eligibility
H-1B Visa: Applicant must have a graduate degree (or equivalent) and employer sponsorship.
Trump Gold Card: Requires $1 million individual investment or $2 million corporate investment in the U.S.
3. Duration & Status
H-1B Visa: Initially valid for 3 years, extendable up to 6 years. After that, workers may apply for a green card.
Trump Gold Card: Functions as a green card directly (permanent residency), with a pathway to U.S. citizenship.
4. Cost/Financial Requirement
H-1B Visa: Application fee starts at $460, plus additional employer costs. Under Trump’s changes, workers may also face a $100,000 annual fee.
Trump Gold Card: Requires $1–2 million investment in the U.S., plus processing fees.
5. Family Benefits
H-1B Visa: Dependents (spouse and children) can enter on H-4 visas, but spouses often face work restrictions.
Trump Gold Card: Covers the entire family, offering them green cards and permanent residency rights.
6. Focus/Objective
H-1B Visa: Supports U.S. companies in hiring skilled foreign professionals, especially in tech.
Trump Gold Card: Designed to raise billions for the U.S. economy and attract ultra-high-net-worth individuals and corporations.
7. Policy Status
H-1B Visa: Already an established, long-running U.S. visa program.
Trump Gold Card: Still a proposal, not yet passed by Congress or implemented.
👉 In short:
H-1B = Work visa for skilled professionals, but temporary, costly under Trump’s rules, and dependent on employer sponsorship.
Trump Gold Card = Citizenship-by-investment program, giving permanent residency in exchange for very large investments.
