Easy way for rich South Africans to become United States residents

President Donald Trump’s “gold card” visa program is quietly being tested to ensure the system works properly, Elon Musk said in a post on X.

“Once it is fully tested, it will be rolled out to the public with an announcement by the president,” Musk said.

The gold card program is a Trump plan that would provide wealthy foreigners who can afford it with an easier path to United States citizenship.

In February 2025, Trump announced the program to offer residency and a path to citizenship to investors who pay $5 million.

This would offer a new avenue for legal immigration even as he carries out a sweeping crackdown on undocumented migrants.

Trump said the program, dubbed the “gold card”, would launch soon, adding that he did not believe his administration needed to secure approval from Congress.

He added that American businesses could purchase his proposed “gold cards” to help keep students of Ivy League and other top universities in the country after they graduate.

Trump suggested that United States firms struggle to recruit or retain high-quality talent because of uncertainty over the immigration status of some students.

United States companies, particularly in Silicon Valley, have said they have difficulties filling many of their posts.

Trump said he wants to welcome more legal immigrants with in-demand skills or the wealth to invest in the country.

“These companies can go and buy a gold card, and they can use it as a matter of recruitment,” he said.

The president, who unveiled the proposed program alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, predicted that businesses would welcome it.

Immigration experts say lawmakers would need to approve the change. The full scope of the plan and how it would be implemented was not immediately clear.

“We’re going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million, and that’s going to give you green card privileges,” Lutnick said.

Lutnick said the move could replace the existing EB-5 program, which allows foreign investors and their immediate families to gain permanent residence by investing.

“The president said rather than having this sort of ridiculous EB-5 program, we’re going to end the EB-5 program. We’re going to replace it with the Trump gold card,” Lutnic said.

“They’ll be able to pay $5 million to the US government. They’ll have to go through vetting, of course, going to make sure they are wonderful world-class, global citizens.”

“They can come to America. The president can give them a green card, and they can invest in America, and we can use that money to reduce our deficit.”