The $1 million Gold Card visa programme launched by US President Donald Trump has so far failed to generate strong interest, particularly among Indian applicants. Nearly a week after its announcement, immigration experts say inquiries have remained limited, with most investors continuing to prefer the long-established EB-5 investor visa route to the United States.

The muted response highlights concerns around clarity, legal backing, and long-term certainty, areas where the EB-5 programme continues to hold an advantage despite higher demand and existing backlogs.

A New Idea With Big Promises

Trump​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Gold Card has been marketed by President Trump as a luxurious immigration choice that would entice the best global talent and also create a source of income for the US government. A number of media outlets have presented the scheme as an immigrant status of unlimited duration, comparable to a green card, with the promise of citizenship in the long ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌run.

“Basically, it’s a green card but much better,” Trump said at the launch. “Much more powerful, a much stronger path.”

Despite these assurances, the programme has struggled to convince potential applicants, especially wealthy Indians who are typically active in investor-led migration categories.

Unclear Rules Create Hesitation

Immigration experts point to vague guidelines and a lack of legal clarity as key reasons behind the limited interest. According to legal advisors, the Gold Card does not clearly define how applicants progress to permanent residency or citizenship, making it a risky proposition even for high-net-worth individuals.

“The instructions for the Gold Card are loosely worded, and there is no clearly defined pathway to permanent residency or citizenship,” said Keshav Singhania, Head of Private Client at Singhania & Co.

As a result, applicants are being advised to stick to existing and well-regulated visa categories instead of experimenting with a new and uncertain option.

EB-5 Offers Structure and Predictability

In contrast, the EB-5 investor visa programme has a clear framework backed by US law. The United States issues 10,000 EB-5 visas annually, with a country cap of 7 percent or 700 visas per country, including dependents. Applicants from India and China account for a large share of demand.

To qualify, investors must invest $800,000 in a targeted employment area or $1.05 million in other locations. The investment must also generate at least 10 full-time jobs. Importantly, this investment covers the entire family, making it more cost-effective than the Gold Card option.

Under the Gold Card proposal, each family member must pay $1 million along with a $15,000 processing fee. For a family of four, the total cost starts at $4 million, excluding legal expenses, making it significantly more expensive than EB-5.

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Limited Interest From High-Net-Worth Individuals

Immigration lawyers report almost no traction for the Gold Card so far. Poorvi Chothani, a prominent immigration lawyer, said that she has not received a single inquiry for the programme.

“You will get stuck in the EB-1 and EB-2 queues anyway. At this point, I don’t see this as an attractive option given the legal and practical uncertainties,” she said.

Shilpa Malik, Managing Attorney at US-based VisaLaw Nation, echoed this sentiment, noting that while there has been curiosity among ultra-wealthy individuals, it has not translated into applications.

“We have seen significant inbound curiosity, particularly from high-net-worth individuals and global founders. However, this has translated into very limited concrete follow-through,” she said, adding that no formal applications have been processed so far.

Legal and Legislative Challenges Loom

Experts also point out that the Gold Card is not a standalone immigration category. Rajneesh Pathak, founder and CEO of Global North Residency and Citizenship, explained that it has been placed within the EB-1 and EB-2 categories, both of which already face long waiting periods due to visa backlogs.

“It does not have its own visa allocation,” Pathak said, noting that any application would still be subject to existing delays.

He also highlighted that unlike EB-5, which is protected by statute and includes grandfathering provisions, the Gold Card would require Congressional approval to become a fully secure programme.

Demand for EB-5 Continues to Rise

Amid tighter H1B visa norms and other immigration changes, interest in EB-5 has increased sharply. From January to November 2025, Global North Residency processed over 100 EB-5 applications, with more than 60 additional petitions being filed across December 2025 and January 2026 alone.

Arindam Sengupta, co-founder of Edufund, summed up investor sentiment clearly. “EB-5 has been around for nearly three decades and has a proven track record. The Gold Card lacks both clarity and proof of concept,” he said. “At a million-dollar price point, people want something tried and tested.”

For now, certainty appears to be outweighing novelty, leaving Trump’s Gold Card struggling to find takers while EB-5 continues to dominate investor-led immigration choices.

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