Overview
- An official website began accepting applications during a White House event unveiling the program.
- Individuals must pay $1 million and companies $2 million per sponsored worker, plus a nonrefundable $15,000 processing fee.
- The card provides legal permanent residence with eventual eligibility for citizenship, subject to background screening by Homeland Security.
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the initiative will supplant EB-5 and channel proceeds to the federal government, with no specific job-creation requirement described.
- The site lists an optional $5 million Platinum tier with premium benefits, and early reactions highlight likely legal and political challenges as well as equity concerns.