Rosanna Berardi, Managing Partner of Berardi Immigration Law, was recently featured in The Washington Post, offering professional insight on one of the most talked-about and legally uncertain immigration programs to emerge in recent years.
The article, Lawyers for the global elite aren’t buying Trump’s gold card visa, examines growing concern among immigration attorneys nationwide about the Trump administration’s proposed “gold card” visa, a program marketed to wealthy foreign nationals seeking U.S. residency in exchange for a $1 million or $2 million investment, plus a $15,000 nonrefundable application fee.
At the heart of the story is a fundamental question facing both attorneys and prospective applicants: can a residency program created by executive order, without congressional authorization, actually deliver on what it promises?
According to the article, only a small fraction of the hundreds of inquiries have moved forward in the process, and a recent government court filing revealed that gold card applicants will not receive preferential processing over individuals seeking established employment-based visas like the EB-1 or EB-2. Immigration attorneys across the country have expressed concern about the program’s legal foundation, ongoing litigation, unclear tax implications, and lack of any guarantee of approval.
Rosanna shared her perspective on why Berardi Immigration Law has chosen not to take on these cases:
“As immigration counsel, our obligation is always to protect our clients’ interests,” she said, “and we do not believe it is appropriate to recommend a program with such significant legal uncertainty and financial risk, even when clients express a desire to proceed.”
Berardi noted that while the firm has heard from clients interested in the gold card, she has “made the professional decision not to accept these cases,” citing concerns about the legality of the program and the substantial application cost that comes with no guarantee of approval.
The gold card visa was established by executive order, meaning it could be eliminated just as easily as it was created. Unlike the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which has existed since 1990 and is rooted in federal statute, the gold card has no congressional backing, no implementing regulations, and is currently the subject of active litigation. For wealthy foreign nationals exploring U.S. residency options, established pathways like EB-5, EB-1, and EB-2 continue to offer far greater certainty and legal protection.
As this program continues to draw scrutiny, Berardi Immigration Law remains committed to guiding clients toward immigration solutions that are legally sound, strategically smart, and built to withstand the realities of an ever-changing immigration landscape.
Read the full article here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/
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