United States: Trump presents his million-dollar "gold" residence permit and inflates a tech visa

A Willy Wonka-style golden ticket to the United States... Donald Trump signed a decree on Friday creating a million-dollar "golden" residence permit, in reference to the famous "green card" that allows you to live and work in the United States.

"This is going to be a huge success," predicted the American president about this new system, which should allow foreign citizens with "exceptional qualities" to obtain the famous "gold card." "In return for the payment of one million dollars to the US Treasury, or, if a company sponsors them, two million dollars," applicants for this "gold card" "will benefit from an accelerated visa process," specified an advisor to Donald Trump.

400,000 H-1B visas in 2024

The US president also announced on Friday an annual fee of $100,000 for work visas widely used in the technology sector, with potentially major consequences for these companies that recruit heavily in Asia.

H-1B visas allow foreign workers with specific qualifications (scientists, engineers, and computer programmers, among others) to come and work in the United States. These work permits are fixed-term, with an initial period of three years, extendable to six years for foreigners sponsored by an employer. Since his first term, Donald Trump has expressed his desire to limit these permits in order to prioritize American workers.

"The general idea is that these big tech companies and other companies will no longer train foreign workers," explained Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, standing with the American president in the Oval Office, assuring that "all the big companies are on board."

If they use foreign workers, "they have to pay the government $100,000 and then pay their employee, it's not cost-effective," he continued. "If you want to train someone, you're going to train a young graduate from one of the great universities in our country, train Americans, and stop bringing people in to take our jobs."

The number of H-1B visa applications has increased significantly in recent years, with approvals peaking in 2022 under Democratic President Joe Biden . In contrast, the number of rejections peaked in 2018, during Donald Trump's first term in office.

The United States approved approximately 400,000 H-1B visas in 2024, two-thirds of which were renewals. Three-quarters of approved H-1B applicants are Indian nationals. Major technology companies employ large numbers of Indian workers who travel to the United States or travel back and forth between the two countries.

Tech entrepreneurs—including former Trump ally Elon Musk —have previously warned against targeting H-1B visas, saying the US does not have enough skilled workers domestically to meet the sector's needs.

Anti-immigration measures

According to a copy of the executive order signed by Donald Trump, fees will be charged for those seeking entry into the country starting Sunday, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem able to exempt individuals, businesses, or entire sectors.

This announcement adds to an arsenal of anti-immigration measures taken by the American president and his government, which is also carrying out mass expulsions of illegal immigrants.