US Government Launches New Website Promoting 'Premium' Visas for the Wealthy

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President Donald Trump of the United States has introduced a new website promoting his proposed US$5 million ($7.7 million) US residency permit, announcing that the waiting list for the ‘golden visa’ is now open.

“We have received thousands of inquiries from people eager to learn how they can embark on a wonderful journey to gain entry to the Greatest Country and Market in the world,” Trump mentioned in a social media post on Thursday AEST.

Trump first revealed this type of visa aboard the Air Force One aircraft in April, showcasing a golden prototype featuring his face and ensuring that the special permit would likely be available “in less than two weeks”.

A concept design of the golden ‘Trump Card’, also bearing Trump’s image, can be found on the website.

What is Trump’s gold card?

The US president has previously said the new card would be a “route to citizenship” — through not automatically confer it — and that “wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card”.

Much of the exact detail about how the plan would work has not been made clear.

A gold card that reads "United States of America", "$5 million", and"The Trump Card", along with the Statue of Liberty, Donald Trump and a bald eagle.

The mock-up of the ‘Trump Card’ as it appears on the US government website. Source: Supplied / Trump Card website

The visas are not available yet, but the website announced on Thursday allows interested parties to submit their name, region, desired visa type and email address to be notified about them.

Trump previously said the new visa, a high-priced version of the traditional green card, would bring in job creators and could be used to reduce the US national deficit.

The US secretary of commerce, Howard Lutnick, stated that this initiative would replace the EB-5 visa, which grants permanent residency to certain foreigners who invest approximately US$1 million ($1.5 million) and create at least 10 full-time jobs in the United States.

Announcement comes amid fury at immigration crackdown

The announcement comes as immigration raids are being ramped up across the country, prompting protests, and as Trump’s administration faces ongoing lawsuits and accusations of rights violations over its anti-immigration blitz.

A large group of protesters, many holding Mexican flags, outside a building being guarded by troops.

Demonstrations have erupted in Los Angeles, New York, and various other US locations in response to the Trump administration’s intensified immigration raids. Source: Getty / Anadolu

Trump said in February that his administration hoped to sell “maybe a million” of the cards and did not rule out that Russian oligarchs may be eligible.