Nearly a week after the Trump administration opened applications for its $1 million “Gold Card” visa, early signs suggest the programme has failed to generate meaningful interest among potential applicants, including wealthy Indians who were expected to be a key target group. Immigration experts say the scheme’s lack of clarity, legal ambiguity and absence of a defined pathway to permanent residency or citizenship have made it a hard sell even for high-net-worth individuals.
Lawyers familiar with US immigration policy say the Gold Card visa suffers from loosely worded guidelines that leave critical questions unanswered. Keshav Singhania, head of private client services at Singhania & Co, said the programme does not clearly outline how applicants would transition to permanent residency or eventual citizenship. He added that this uncertainty undermines the appeal of a visa positioned as a premium offering.
Several leading immigration firms report little to no concrete demand since applications opened. Poorvi Chothani, a prominent immigration lawyer, said her firm has not received a single inquiry about the Gold Card. Even if interest emerges, she said clients are being advised to pursue the EB-5 investor visa instead, which offers a clearer legal framework despite long waiting periods. She noted that Gold Card applicants could still end up stuck in existing EB-1 and EB-2 queues, diminishing any perceived advantage.
Other attorneys echoed similar concerns. Shilpa Malik, managing attorney at US-based VisaLaw Nation, said her firm has seen curiosity from high-net-worth individuals and global founders, but that interest has rarely translated into formal applications. According to Malik, the profile of potential takers is extremely narrow, limited to ultra-wealthy individuals who prioritize long-term access to the United States or brand association over immediate immigration benefits.
In contrast, the EB-5 investor visa programme continues to attract strong demand, particularly from India and China, which together account for the majority of applicants. The EB-5 programme allows investors to obtain a green card by investing $800,000 in a targeted employment area or $1.05 million elsewhere, provided the investment creates at least 10 full-time jobs. The US issues 10,000 EB-5 visas annually, subject to a 7% per-country cap that includes dependents.
Immigration experts say the popularity of EB-5 underscores the challenges facing the Gold Card visa. While EB-5 comes with higher regulatory scrutiny and longer timelines, it offers a well-established and legally tested route to permanent residency. By comparison, the Gold Card’s uncertain structure and lack of statutory backing have left many prospective applicants unwilling to commit large sums of money without clearer guarantees.
Unless the administration provides more detailed guidance and legal assurances, lawyers believe the Gold Card visa is unlikely to gain traction. For now, most wealthy investors appear content to stick with existing immigration pathways that, while imperfect, offer predictability and a clearer route to settling in the United States.
