Inside Elon Musk’s Quiet Overhaul of US Immigration: The $5 Million “Gold Card Visa” Initiative

A silent revolution may be unfolding in the realm of U.S. immigration—and it’s being spearheaded by none other than Elon Musk. In a surprising update on former President Donald Trump’s proposed “Gold Card Visa” program, Musk recently revealed that a limited, behind-the-scenes trial of the high-value immigration initiative is already underway. While the initiative hasn’t yet made headlines in mainstream political coverage, its implications could be massive, not only for the U.S. immigration system but also for America’s position in the global tech and finance ecosystem.

the Gold Card Visa Program (Approx. )

In response to a tweet from entrepreneur Mario Nawfal, Elon Musk confirmed that a “quiet trial” of the Gold Card Visa program is currently in progress. The aim is to rigorously test the system before it rolls out nationwide with an official announcement expected from former President Donald Trump.

This new immigration strategy offers permanent residency in the U.S. to wealthy foreign nationals for a hefty price tag of \$5 million per visa. The initiative departs significantly from the more bureaucratic EB-5 visa, which requires investments of \$800,000 to \$1.05 million and the creation of 10 American jobs. Instead of focusing on job creation, the Gold Card centers purely on revenue generation, potentially replacing the EB-5’s estimated \$4 billion annual contribution.

At the heart of the operation is Elon Musk’s own task force under the umbrella of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—an unofficial, internal organization reportedly created to modernize bureaucratic processes. Engineers from DOGE, including Marko Elez and Edward Coristine, are working closely with federal agencies like the State Department and Homeland Security to develop a streamlined digital platform for the visa process.

Marko Elez, although recently embroiled in controversy over a pseudonymous online account linked to racially insensitive content, remains a key figure in technical collaboration with government bodies. Edward Coristine, just 19 years old and known online as “Big Balls,” has a complicated background as well—he was previously dismissed from a 2022 internship due to a data leak.

Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia has also joined the project, initially tasked with digitizing outdated federal retirement systems. His involvement signals a broader digital overhaul of legacy systems beyond just immigration.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claims that 1,000 Gold Cards have already been sold, with applicants undergoing expedited background checks and interviews, targeting visa approvals within two weeks. Despite not offering citizenship, the card grants permanent U.S. residency.

A prototype of the physical Gold Card was recently unveiled by Trump, featuring bold patriotic symbolism including his own portrait, the Statue of Liberty, and a bald eagle—hinting at an imminent public rollout.

What Undercode Say: (Analytic Deep Dive – Approx. 40 Lines)

The Gold Card Visa project marks a striking convergence of tech disruption, political legacy, and immigration policy, with Elon Musk once again playing a central role in reshaping institutional systems that most consider untouchable.

While traditional immigration reform moves at a glacial pace, this initiative bypasses congressional bottlenecks through private-public cooperation and strategic use of executive influence. The logic is both utilitarian and controversial: let the ultra-wealthy buy access to America, fast.

On the surface, this is a hyper-capitalist solution to bureaucratic inefficiency, monetizing residency for the ultra-rich while ostensibly helping to fund other government programs. The integration of Silicon Valley talent (DOGE, Airbnb’s Gebbia) suggests a broader trend where tech elites aim to replace archaic public sector workflows with sleek, data-driven alternatives.

However, the ethical undertones of the initiative are deeply problematic. By commodifying access to permanent residency, the Gold Card risks worsening class inequality in immigration, creating a parallel track only accessible to billionaires and multimillionaires. It also potentially undermines the moral foundation of the American Dream, reducing immigration from an aspirational pursuit to a financial transaction.

From a cybersecurity standpoint, the inclusion of figures like Edward Coristine—previously involved in a data leak—raises serious concerns about the safety and integrity of sensitive applicant data. Combined with the controversy surrounding Elez’s alleged views, the project’s leadership appears ideologically volatile and potentially risky in execution.

Politically, Trump’s branding of the Gold Card with his likeness signals a strategic narrative for the 2024 campaign: pro-business, pro-America, and anti-bureaucracy. Whether this will resonate with the public remains to be seen, but the trial’s quiet beginnings suggest Musk is betting on performance before publicity.

Analytically, the program may also challenge the \EB-5 market