UAE residents eye US residency, but risks and visa traps grow in 2025

Dubai: For many affluent UAE residents — from entrepreneurs to high-net-worth expats — the US has long been seen as the ultimate Plan B: offering global mobility, elite education, and long-term security for their families.

But even with money and mobility, getting permanent residency in the US remains a frustratingly difficult process.

The launch of a flashy new program — the Trump Gold Card, which promises a fast-track Green Card for a $5 million investment — has caught attention in Dubai.

But for those seriously considering a US move, the program has also reignited a bigger question: Why is it still so hard — and risky — to secure long-term US residency through investment?

For many years, the EB-5 investor visa was the go-to route for wealthy UAE-based families looking to gain a foothold in the US. By investing at least $800,000 into a government-approved project and creating 10 American jobs, investors could earn a Green Card for themselves and their family.

But over the last decade, this once-popular pathway has slowed down dramatically. UAE-based applicants now face:

For those who already hold second passports and are used to faster processes in countries like Portugal, Grenada, or St Kitts, the EB-5 has become a bureaucratic nightmare — albeit one backed by US law.

Into this frustration stepped the Gold Card — an initiative backed by Donald Trump’s US presidential campaign that offers long-term US residency in exchange for a $5 million investment, with:

On paper, it looks like the dream solution UAE investors have been waiting for.

But there’s a problem: immigration lawyers say the program doesn’t legally exist under current US law.

“It’s not a recognised visa category under the Immigration and Nationality Act,” warned one US-based attorney working with Middle East clients. “Even if you pay, there’s no guarantee the visa will be issued.”

Despite this, interest from the UAE has surged, with Dubai-based wealth advisers reporting a spike in queries from clients looking for alternatives to EB-5.

Whether it’s EB-5 or the Gold Card, UAE residents face the same underlying issue: none of the investment routes to the US offer speed, clarity, and security all at once.

The result? Many UAE-based families park funds in multiple programs across the world, just to keep their options open — from Caribbean passports to Portuguese residencies, while holding out hope for a viable US route.

Before sending millions abroad, UAE investors weighing US migration should ask:

Even with wealth, the US residency puzzle is far from solved. And while glossy new programs like the Gold Card offer hope, there’s still no substitute for legal clarity and due diligence.

Final thoughts?

In the US immigration game, trust matters more than speed.

For UAE residents with the means to invest, the real challenge isn’t just picking the right visa. It’s navigating a complex, often changing legal system — and making sure the path chosen today still exists tomorrow.

After all, it’s not just about getting in. It’s about staying in — securely.