Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his long-promised “golden card” is officially on sale, offering legal status and an eventual path to US citizenship for individuals who pay $1 million and $2 million, and corporations that pay double that amount for each foreign-born employee.

According to Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, “This historic program fulfills President Trump's promise to attract the world's most successful entrepreneurs and investors to the United States, while ensuring they actively participate in the project.”

“A direct path to citizenship for all qualified and verified individuals. How exciting! Our great American companies can finally retain their invaluable talent," Trump wrote on social media.

A website accepting applications went live when Trump announced the program's launch, surrounded by business leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. Its goal is to replace the EB-5 visas, created by Congress in 1990 to attract foreign investment and available to those who invested around one million dollars in a company with at least 10 employees. Trump views the new version as a way for the United States to and retain top talent While generating revenue for the federal treasury, he has been promoting the Gold Card program for months and once suggested that each card would cost $5 million, although he recently revised the price to $1 million and $2 million. According to a September executive order, individuals must pay $1 million, while companies sponsoring their employees must pay $2 million. Companies must pay an annual maintenance fee of 1%, equivalent to $20,000, and a transfer fee of 5%, equivalent to $100,000, each time they wish to transfer an employee's visa.

The program comes at a time when the Trump administration is dedicating significant resources to the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants. The gold card program has already received strong criticism for contradicting the United States' traditional reputation as a haven for the working poor.

According to the official website, a “Trump Platinum Card” will soon be launched.This card will allow its holders to spend up to 270 days in the US without being subject to taxes on non-US income. Its cost will be $5 million.

According to Trump, the funds raised by the new program will go into “an account where we can do positive things for the country” and that will generate “many billions of dollars.”