Author: Rasmita Jena

US President Donald Trump recently revealed a new visa called the “Gold Card” that could give investors a quicker way to become US citizens. This card will cost $5 million and will replace the old EB-5 visa, which is a program that allowed investors to get green cards by funding businesses in America.

The EB-5 visa has been around since 1990 and required a $1 million investment plus the creation of 10 jobs in the US. In contrast, the Gold Card doesn’t require job creation, and it allows investors to skip the long waiting times associated with traditional green cards, especially for Indian nationals.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Gold Card will officially replace the EB-5 visa in two weeks. With the Gold Card, investors can get green cards (which means they can live and work in the US permanently) much faster—possibly even immediately after paying the $5 million fee.

Here’s a quick comparison:

– EB-5 Visa:
– Costs: $800,000 – $1.05 million
– Jobs: Must create 10 US jobs
– Path to Citizenship: Takes 5-7 years
– Wait for Indians: 7-10+ years due to high demand

– Trump’s Gold Card:
– Costs: $5 million
– Jobs: No job creation needed
– Path to Citizenship: Immediate
– Wait for Indians: No wait, pay directly

While the Gold Card offers a fast track to US residency, it comes with a hefty price tag that makes it only possible for the richest individuals. If you’re not in the super-rich category, there are still other options to consider for US immigration.

Other Immigration Options for Indians:
– EB-5 Visa: If still available, can cost $800,000 and takes 3-5 years.
– O-1 Visa: For highly skilled professionals in fields like tech and art.
– L-1 Visa: For business owners and company executives.
– H-1B to EB-2/EB-3: The traditional route, but can take a very long time.

In short, the Gold Card visa could change the game for wealthy investors looking to live in the US, but it’s not for everyone.

It’s just a few months into the New Year, and I’ve already attended two weddings and two funerals. Watching these events close together made me think about love and death. They are more connected than we might realize.

One of the funerals was for my uncle. Listening to people share their memories of him was touching. They spoke about how kind he was, how curious he was about the world, and how he treated everyone, from politicians to everyday folks, with respect. This got me pondering: what will people say about you when you’re gone? What would they remember about you at your memorial service? This brings up an important question: who are you, and how do you show yourself to the world?

From what I’ve seen lately at funerals, it seems like people remember your character more than your job. Unless you’ve invented something groundbreaking, how you treated others really matters. At memorials, people often talk about being kind, warm, funny, and honest. These are the qualities that make us human.

As we get older, many people embrace their quirks. They’ve stopped pretending to be someone they’re not. In a way, meeting older folks can be refreshing because they show you the beauty of being real and authentic.

But can you be genuine in your forties or fifties without waiting until you’re older? It’s tough because life is full of roles—we are siblings, parents, and friends all at once. Each role has its own expectations. Sometimes you have to hold back what you really feel just to keep the peace.

Recently, I had a thought: maybe I should tell my mother how much she means to me. When I suggested this to my husband, he said, “That’s not my style. I show love in small ways.”

This brings up a larger question: do our loved ones know how we feel? We often tell our kids how much we love them, but what about our parents? My mother, who is now 86, doesn’t say “I love you,” but her love shines through her actions. For example, when I mention writing about sarees, she asks others for tips, showing that she cares about what I do.

As we just celebrated Valentine’s Day and are approaching Holi, which both honor love, it’s a good moment to think about expressing love for those we might overlook: our parents.

A serious argument erupted between West Bengal’s ruling party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and the main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This happened after a woman died when her car flipped over. She was reportedly being chased by a group of men in another car in Paschim Bardhaman district.

Union minister Sukanta Majumdar, who is also a BJP MP, accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of making West Bengal unsafe for women. He stated, “Every day, terrible crimes happen against women, and the government does nothing to help!” He criticized Banerjee for promising to protect women but claimed that under her government, women are harmed instead.

In response, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh released a video. He said that the police believe this incident was just a traffic accident and denied that the woman was being harassed. He warned that false information is being spread about the woman’s death.

The woman, who was just 27 years old and worked in management, died in what police are calling a “road accident.” According to police investigations, she was actually trying to overtake another vehicle when the crash occurred. However, her grieving mother raised concerns about the police investigation, saying they aren’t doing enough to find the people in the other car.

The woman was traveling to a function in Gaya, Bihar, with three of her coworkers. Police have taken both cars involved in the incident and are currently investigating the case.