The lawyer’s phone is ringing with wealthy foreigners who want to learn more about how to score the “gold medal,” a glorious green card that allows them to live and work in the United States without the usual hassle or traditional videotapes. Apparently, the card's $5 million price wasn't scared, hoping to get the United States home. Or at least one house.

"The $5 million for these people is the cost of jet fuel. It doesn't make much sense to them," said Matthew Kolken, an immigration attorney from Buffalo, New York. Clients declined to comment, but Kolken said he thinks the gold medal is cheap, and if anything, it will save foreign multimillionaires, given the time and hassle.

"This makes it possible for them to buy a way to get into the U.S.," Colken said. "They will be able to drop their Amex Black card."

And a lot of interest.

"I have a man from India, one from Pakistan, two from Egypt, and one from Russia. And a colleague from (client) from Russia." Most people are attracted to the proposal for the express lane of permanent residence, and the greater impact on taxation; foreign nationals living in the United States can only tax their U.S. income.

Shaa said that being able to flash a "gold medal" to wield the security and condition of the United States is also a great attraction, as well as what Trump calls "privileges-plus." The president has not elaborated on what that means, but Shah said customers are imagining VIP allowances, from simple loans to special fast track lanes at customs in U.S. airports.

"They seem to think it will be some kind of first-class separation from the economic class, it's some kind of 'red carpet' visa, and they will be seen as VIPs everywhere," Shah said.

But whether or not there is any such benefit (or obligation) will carry a gold medal, away from clear payments, and the administration has not provided any more details three months after President Donald Trump first began promoting the idea.

“It’s a great thing, gold medal. Remember the word ‘gold!’! “The rich people will enter our country by buying this card. They will be rich, they will succeed, they will spend a lot of money, pay a lot of taxes and hire a lot of people. And we think it will be very successful, never doing anything like this. ”

Trump added that he would be happy to call it "Trump gold medal." In fact, officials say the government website is now using the name trumpard.govAfter that, Trump revealed a sample card with his face in front of it.

Trump said the proceeds from the gold medal will be used to repay the budget deficit and could even raise funds with $36.2 trillion in Treasury bonds.

"We will be able to sell a million cards that may be, maybe more than just more," Trump said. "One million cards will be worth $5 trillion. If you sell 10 million cards, that's $500 trillion in total. We have $35 trillion in debt. That would be great."

However, most immigration experts and lawyers think this number is very unrealistic. They expect sales to be at a low level.

Immigration attorney Darren Silver said he had received a series of calls about gold medals, but once he explained the program it wasn't like the existing EB-5 visa program, which could potentially invest in a business in a business, or require nearly $1 million in a business invested in a lower business.

Silver said his clients were surprised when they told them that gold was not an investment that could provide any return. It's really just a donation.

“I had to explain to them, ‘You are giving the U.S. government $5 million. That’s all you have to do.’” Silver said. "Once I explained this to them, they'll go out."

Similar programs that provide residence or citizenship in exchange for investment have been tried in several other countries, including Malta, Greece, Portugal, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates. Many of these countries face challenges, and many have recently ended their plans.

In April, Malta's "Golden Visa" program was considered a violation of EU law. Order to close. Spain's plan was terminated after it was criticized for raising housing prices. A UK plan to close in 2022 involves issues of national security, illegal funding and money laundering. Similar concerns ended the plans in Cyprus, Ireland, Bulgaria.

“We’ve seen these plans attract unpleasant characters,” said Kate Hooper, senior policy analyst at the Institute for Nonpartisan Immigration Policy. “The problem is time and time again, these plans are not a good way to track who investors are actually and where their money comes from. This is the real challenge of running an effective investor visa program, and we’re seeing more of these plans fold.”

Trump said gold card applicants will review it “very careful”. But when reporters asked whether the Russian oligarch was eligible for the gold medal, he did not try to reduce his attention.

"Yes," Trump replied. "I know some Russian oligarchs are very good people."

The Trump administration will also face other challenges, including managing optics that will roll out the red carpet to welcome Uber's health and privileged foreigners while the government is actively detaining and deporting A large number of immigrants For many reasons, fewer means.

"The gold medal is directly at its height," said Shah lawyer. "I think if the founding fathers knew we sold the residency in this way, they might have turned over in their grave."

But supporters say opening a special new lane for wealthy immigrants will ultimately help everyone.

"We have really short money at the U.S. Treasury now, and it seems like a way to make money, not tax U.S. citizens," said Stephen Moore, a former economic adviser for Trump and a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation. "We can accept the crowded masses, and We can take away very wealthy people who are not mutually exclusive. ”

John Lettieri, CEO of the bipartisan think tank Economic Innovation Group, agreed. He believes that gold medals are a good step to building a more performing immigration system.

"Now we are granting visas on a lottery basis, which is completely random and blind to attracting and retaining the best and smartest people from around the world, and we need to be more favorable to this talent if we want to maintain the (competitive) advantage we have right now," he said. "Gold is not a handout. The reward we get is very important, and it can be a very important way to offset the costs of Americans relying on other very important programs."

One whole question is whether Trump can legally do his advice without Congress’ approval. Immigration lawyer, Some Democrats And some Republican lawmakers and conservative immigration experts say he can't. But Trump insists that this is “completely legal” because he only offers permanent residence and stops providing citizenship.

Meanwhile, while wealthy waits and thinks about the risks and benefits of gold cards, late night comedy shows and the internet have some fun with gold cards. In an article on X, a woman offered a offer to beat Trump, which she called a $1 million “discount.” She said that for only $4 million, she would help a super rich foreigner come to the United States by marrying him.