Four months ago, on February 226, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced his plan to sell a ‘gold card’ visa. “I happen to think it’ll sell like crazy. It’s a market,” Mr. Trump said. “But we’ll know very soon,” he had said.

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During the same meeting, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told the press that this initiative would replace the EB-5 program, which offers US visas to investors who spend about $1 million on a company that employs at least 10 people.

Aftermath: In light of the recent restrictions on student visas, several Indian students in the US, as well as those thinking about attending college there, are looking into the EB-5 option. Immigration attorneys have reported that over the last four to five months, during Donald Trump's second term as President, there has been more than a cent per cent hike in EB-5 applications from Indian students.

What is the programme: The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program offers a green card to foreign nationals to become US permanent residents (green card holders) by investing at least $800,000 (or $1,050,000 if the investment is not in a Targeted Employment Area) in a qualified American business or government-approved regional center or preserves at least 10 full-time jobs for US workers. This programme aims to boost and strengthen the US economy through foreign investment and job creation.

Hike in interest: The increase in interest in EB-5 visas coincides with heightened scrutiny and limitations on F-1 student visas. Recent regulations implemented during Donald Trump's second term have created more challenges for international students seeking to remain and work in the US after completing their studies. The F-1 visa permits students to pursue full-time education at American schools, but it provides only a few employment opportunities both during and after their academic programs.

Annual limit: The US has an annual limit of approximately 700 EB-5 visas for individuals from India. In 2024, there are over 86,000 Indian students studying at American universities, resulting in a demand that significantly exceeds the supply, leading to intense competition.

The F-1 visa for non-immigrants allows international students to come to the US for full-time academic programs, with some restrictions on work. Since January, USIF has seen a 100 per cent rise in F-1 visa holders applying for EB-5 visas compared to 2024.