US Gold Card: After H-1B visa fee hike, Trump's new card draws sharp rise in applicants chasing American dream - 'interest gone up since revisions'

US President Donald Trump's new Gold Card programme, offering a fast-track route to US residency, has sparked growing interest among Indians chasing the American dream, particularly after his administration hiked H-1B visa fees to $100,000.The Gold Card, signed into effect through an executive order on September 19, requires a non-refundable $1 million "gift" to the US Treasury, or $2 million through corporate sponsorship. Unlike the EB-5 investor visa, the scheme is positioned as a contribution to "American industry and commerce."Immigration firms say the demand has risen significantly since the H-1B overhaul. "Interest has gone up sharply since the H-1B revisions," Sahil Nyati, founder of consultancy Jinee Green Card & Meritmap.ai, noting that most queries are from mid-career tech professionals in their 30s and 40s with STEM backgrounds told ET.The surge follows Trump’s move to raise H-1B visa fees to $100,000, a steep jump from the earlier $2,000–$5,000 range. Indians, who account for the largest share of H-1B applicants, are among the hardest hit."In our own practice, conversations referencing the Gold Card are up around 40% this week compared with a normal week, mainly from individuals who were originally considering H-1B or EB-5," Sukanya Raman, country head at immigration firm Davies & Associates told ET.Official figures on Gold Card enquiries and applications are yet to be released. However, US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick claimed there have already been "about a quarter million expressions of interest," Rohit Jain, managing partner at Singhania & Co told the outlet."Our Immigration law teams are noticing a surge in queries from potential clients, particularly corporations, since the announcement of a steep hike in H-1B fees," he added.However, not all lawyers see the same momentum. Prachi Shah, who runs an eponymous law firm, said interest among South Asian clients remains muted. "This is primarily due to the significant investment requirements and the perception that the Gold Card demands a non-refundable $1 million commitment," she further noted.Meanwhile, the administration is also considering a 'Trump Platinum Card', which would require a $5 million contribution for residency. Experts note that the rising costs of US immigration visas are pushing some Indians to explore alternative destinations.