Trump's $5M ‘Gold Visa' Fuels Real Estate Fears and Policy Division Across the U.S.

Time Business News

05-05-2025

Critics Warn of Housing Market Inflation as Amicus International Consulting Offers Lawful, Non-Disruptive Global Residency Alternatives
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former President Donald Trump's controversial proposal to sell U.S. permanent residency for $5 million — dubbed the 'Gold Visa' — provokes international scrutiny and ignites fierce debate among housing economists, real estate professionals, and public policy analysts.
The proposed program would allow wealthy foreign nationals to buy a 'Gold Card,' granting them immediate permanent residency and a pathway to citizenship. It would replace the former EB-5 visa program.
The Gold Visa plan, announced in February 2025, promises swift U.S. entry and legal residency without the job creation or geographic investment criteria that governed its EB-5 predecessor. While President Trump and supporters tout it to raise capital for the American economy, critics warn of unintended side effects — most urgently, its potential to worsen the U.S. housing crisis.
'It may seem like easy money for the government, but we're essentially opening the floodgates for ultra-wealthy foreign buyers in a housing market already under stress,' said Dr. Karen Delano, a housing economist at the Brookings Institution.
The Gold Visa: A Fast Track for the Wealthy
The proposed $5 million fee makes the Gold Visa one of the most expensive residency programs in the world. Similarly, citizenship-by-investment schemes in Caribbean nations like St. Kitts, Nevis, or Dominica require less than $200,000. Malta's EU passport program, one of the most high-profile in Europe, needed under €1 million — until it was halted due to misuse and pressure from the European Union.
Under Trump's plan: No job creation is required
No regional investment is mandated
Vetting standards are not clearly defined
Applicants receive immediate green cards
Citizenship is offered via a 'strong pathway' after permanent residency
According to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, 1,000 Gold Cards were reportedly sold in early May, raising $5 billion in a single day.
This unprecedented surge in capital has alarmed urban housing planners, who warn that the program could supercharge foreign speculation in luxury real estate, displace local buyers, and further drive up prices in cities already facing shortages.
U.S. Housing Market Already Under Pressure
In cities like Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and New York, real estate analysts have long tracked the influence of foreign capital on rising housing costs. In many cases, international buyers — particularly from China, Russia, and the Middle East — have viewed U.S. real estate as a stable store of value, not necessarily as a home.
'They're not just buying property — they're buying a hedge, a backup plan, and in some cases, an escape hatch,' said Janice Romero, a real estate attorney in Miami.
These purchases often remain vacant or are used as part-time residences, further exacerbating housing scarcity.
Median home prices in many of these cities have increased by over 50% in the last five years, with demand outpacing supply due to zoning restrictions, lack of affordable housing, and construction backlogs.
Case Study: Vancouver's Housing Boom — and Bust
The Canadian city of Vancouver provides a cautionary example. In the 2010s, foreign buyers — attracted by Canada's investor immigration programs — purchased homes across Metro Vancouver, driving property values up more than 70% in less than a decade.
The fallout was swift and political: Foreign buyer taxes were implemented
were implemented Speculation and vacancy taxes followed
followed Residents staged protests over housing affordability
Immigration-based investment programs were restructured
'We ignored the early warning signs,' said a former city planner in Vancouver. 'By the time action was taken, most working-class families were priced out of the city.'
From EB-5 to Gold Visa: A Radical Departure
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, established in 1990, required a foreigner to invest at least $800,000 to $1 million into a business that created a minimum of 10 full-time U.S. jobs.
Although it generated tens of billions in U.S. development and helped fund infrastructure and commercial projects, EB-5 was marred by administrative delays, legal challenges, and allegations of fraud.
Trump's Gold Visa removes these checks—there is no job creation, no economic development link, and no transparent vetting. Criteria EB-5 Program Trump's Gold Visa Investment Amount $800,000–$1 million $5 million Job Creation Requirement Yes (10 full-time jobs) None Geographic Mandate Targeted Employment Areas None Vetting & Review USCIS and security agencies Unclear or unstated Path to Citizenship 5+ years of permanent residency 'Strong path' (unspecified)
Amicus International Consulting Offers Balanced Global Residency Options
Amicus International Consulting offers legal, transparent, and ethical alternatives for individuals seeking lawful second citizenship, identity protection, and global mobility in response to the uncertainty surrounding the Gold Visa and its potential consequences for American communities.
'We are not in the business of selling shortcuts or passports,' said a company spokesperson. 'We help clients pursue second citizenship through legal means — ancestry, long-term residency, or qualified partnerships with legitimate governments.'
Unlike investor visa programs that risk disrupting housing markets, Amicus offers non-invasive pathways that do not involve high-end real estate investment or the displacement of residents.
Amicus Offers: Second Citizenship by Legal Right
(e.g., ancestral or descent-based citizenships in Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, etc.)
(e.g., ancestral or descent-based citizenships in Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, etc.) Residency Programs in Neutral Jurisdictions
(Including compliant and extradition-free locations in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia)
(Including compliant and extradition-free locations in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia) Legal Identity Change Services
For journalists, political dissidents, or individuals at risk, fully compliant with local and international law
For journalists, political dissidents, or individuals at risk, fully compliant with local and international law Privacy Structuring and Relocation Services
Those do not involve purchasing luxury real estate or bidding against local families.
Case Study: Dual Citizenship via Ancestry
A Canadian client approached Amicus seeking greater privacy due to rising political instability in her profession. Through Amicus' legal team, she obtained Italian citizenship via her maternal grandfather, a legal and recognized route under Italian law. The client now travels freely throughout the EU, has access to consular protection abroad, and does not have to purchase any property or disrupt any local economy.
Case Study: Corporate Consultant Avoids Real Estate Exposure
A Latin American businessman facing regional unrest wanted to move his assets and family to a safe jurisdiction. Rather than purchase real estate in North America, Amicus secured permanent legal residency in Portugal via a legal tax residency program based on documented income and a clean financial background. The client maintained compliance with global reporting standards and protected his family without pricing out locals.
Market and Legal Integrity
Amicus follows strict protocols to ensure: Full AML/KYC compliance
All clients screened against INTERPOL, OFAC, FATF, and other global databases
No services provided to individuals with outstanding criminal warrants or sanctions
Legal transparency with host governments and institutions
No 'passport-for-sale' schemes or programs without substantial links to the country
'We exist to serve individuals seeking lawful, ethical, and effective identity solutions — not opportunists chasing golden loopholes,' added the spokesperson.
A Call for Immigration Reform — With Housing in Mind
Experts agree: the U.S. needs immigration reform. But most caution against reforms that benefit only the global ultra-wealthy at the expense of struggling families.
'The Gold Visa is not a housing policy — it's a financial privilege wrapped in a flag,' said an affordable housing advocate in San Francisco. 'We need immigration programs that welcome people and protect communities, not auction off citizenship to the highest bidder.'
As lawmakers prepare to debate the legality and viability of the Gold Visa, Amicus International continues to stand as a beacon of legal clarity, offering practical, ethical, and lawful alternatives for clients worldwide.
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Website: www.amicusint.ca