The United States has introduced the “Trump Gold Card” visa, a new immigration program that allows wealthy foreign nationals to secure expedited U.S. residency by making a substantial financial contribution. Under the program, prospective individuals must first pay a processing fee and complete background vetting, and then make a $1 million contribution to the U.S. government. Companies can also sponsor foreign employees by contributing $2 million per employee.
There is concern that the program will replace the current EB-1 and EB-2 immigrant visa programs for exceptional ability, national interest, and merit individuals.
New Rule Requiring Visitors to Submit Social Media and Personal Data
The United States is set to introduce legislation that would require foreign visitors to submit their social media and other personal digital information before entering the country, according to a notice published on the Federal Register.
If approved, the rule would mandate that travelers entering the U.S. without a visa, those from more than 40 European and Asian countries under the Visa Waiver Program, provide five years of social media history along with other personal information. Currently, these travelers only need approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which verifies identity without an embassy visit or interview. The proposed change would significantly tighten screening procedures.
Under the new rule, applicants would be required to provide their social media usernames, email addresses, phone numbers, IP addresses, and detailed information about immediate family members covering the past five years, and, in some cases, the past decade.
In June, the U.S. State Department also instructed embassies and consulates to more strictly scrutinize student visa applicants considered “hostile-minded” toward American citizens, culture, government, or institutions. Under those guidelines, applicants may be asked to make their social media profiles public, and having no online presence could raise suspicion during the vetting process.
The proposal is part of a wider, intensified campaign on immigration that the Trump administration has pursued over the past 11 months, covering all aspects of immigration policy. When asked whether the policy could harm U.S. tourism, President Donald Trump responded, “We need safety. We shouldn’t let the wrong people into our country.”
