Second Wind EB-5

19/12/2025

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/19/trump-suspends-us-green-card-lottery-dv1-visa-program

Homeland security secretary Kristi Noem pauses high-profile visa program, saying shooting suspect Claudio Neves Valente gained green card in 2017

18/12/2025

The U.S. Expands Entry Restrictions for Foreign Nationals

The Trump administration has updated U.S. visa and entry restrictions. Effective January 1, 2026, entry to the United States will be fully or partially restricted for nationals of 39 countries, up from 19 previously.

🔴 Full entry bans now apply to nationals of 20 countries, including Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, as well as Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Laos, and Sierra Leone. The ban also applies to individuals traveling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.

🟠 Partial restrictions affect nationals of an additional 19 countries, primarily limiting entry under common visa categories such as B (visitor), F (student), M (vocational), J (exchange), and certain immigrant visas, with limited exceptions.

🟡 Exemptions are предусмотрены for:
Individuals traveling on a second passport from a non-restricted country
Holders of diplomatic visas, as well as UN and NATO visas
Certain special categories (including athletes and other narrowly defined groups)

ℹ️ Turkmenistan has seen a partial easing of restrictions: entry under nonimmigrant visas is now permitted, while immigrant visa restrictions remain in place.

📌 Full country-specific details and legal scope of the restrictions are published on the White House website:
👉 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/restricting-and-limiting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states/

12/12/2025

Trump Officially Launches the “Gold Card” Visa Program

President Donald Trump has announced the launch of the Trump Gold Card – a new immigration pathway to the United States for wealthy foreign nationals willing to contribute at least $1 million. The idea was first floated in early 2025, but for months it existed mostly as bold statements without clear details. Now the program has been officially introduced, although many aspects remain unclear.

💰 Program Costs:

- $1 million – for individual applicants
- $2 million – for companies sponsoring a foreign employee
- $5 million – for the upcoming Platinum Gold Card, expected to include additional tax benefits

The process begins with an application and a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee. If the application is approved, the applicant must then pay the main contribution: $1 million for individuals or $2 million for companies applying on behalf of an employee. You can add family members to the application, but each one requires a separate non-refundable $15,000 fee and the corresponding main contribution of either $1 million or $2 million.

According to the administration, the Gold Card is tied to the EB-1 (extraordinary ability) and EB-2 (advanced degree / exceptional ability) categories as its legal foundation.

🔍What About the EB-5 Program?

➡️ EB-5 remains fully active and unchanged.

The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program continues to offer a transparent, well-regulated pathway that has existed since 1990. It is based on proven job-creation requirements and offers the possibility of recouping the invested capital, with a minimum investment threshold of $800,000. The entire family receives Green Cards – the principal investor, spouse, and children under 21 – with no additional investment required.

While the Gold Card may eventually develop into a parallel immigration route, for now it is expensive, lacks clarity, and comes with no guarantee of long-term political support.

👉Official website: http://trumpcard.gov