The Gold Card program is a newly announced U.S. immigration initiative created by the Trump administration through Executive Order #14351. The program is described to establish a pathway to permanent residency, allowing foreign nationals to obtain lawful permanent resident (LPR) status—and potentially U.S. citizenship—by making a substantial financial gift to the United States Department of Commerce.
The program has three tiers of participation: the Gold Card, the Corporate Gold Card, and the Platinum Card.
Gold Card ($1 Million)
The standard Gold Card requires a $1 million gift to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Key features:
- Available to individuals filing on their own behalf
- Each family member (spouse and unmarried children under age 21) included in the initial application requires:
- A separate $1 million gift, and
- A $15,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) processing fee
Corporate Gold Card ($2 Million)
The Corporate Gold Card allows a corporation or similar entity to sponsor an individual employee by making a $2 million gift to the U.S. government.
Key features:
- Companies may sponsor one or multiple employees at once
- A $2 million gift is required per employee
- Employers may reuse a prior $2 million gift to sponsor a new employee without making a new gift
- Each family member (spouse and unmarried children under age 21) included in the initial application requires:
- A separate $1 million gift, and
- A $15,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) processing fee
- Additional costs include:
- A planned 1% annual maintenance fee
- A planned 5% transfer fee when reassigning sponsorship
Platinum Card ($5 Million)
The Platinum Card is the highest tier and is not yet fully available. Interested applicants may currently join a waitlist.
Key features:
-
- $5 million gift requirement
- Ability to reside in the U.S. for up to 270 days per year
- Potential exemption from U.S. tax on non-U.S. income, pending Congressional approval
Because this card involves significant tax and residency benefits, it is expected it will require explicit Congressional authorization before full implementation.
Eligibility and Visa Categories
Gold Card applicants must:
- Be admissible to the United States
- Be eligible for lawful permanent resident status
- Have an immigrant visa number available
Cardholders would receive permanent residence under existing employment-based categories:
- EB-1: Alien of Extraordinary Ability
- EB-2: Alien of Exceptional Ability seeking a National Interest Waiver (NIW)
These visa categories already experience substantial backlogs, especially for applicants born in China and India. As a result, even with the Gold Card program’s promises of faster processing, applicants from these countries may still face significant delays in obtaining green cards.
Moreover, the program is not described to address job creation needs or fill skilled worker shortages, unlike traditional employment-based options such as the EB-5, H-1B or O-1 visas. Instead, it is primarily geared toward individuals with significant financial resources.
Form I-140G
The Gold Card process begins with Form I-140G, a new immigrant petition specific to this program. It may be filed by:
- An individual on their own behalf, or
- A corporation or similar entity on behalf of an individual
Applicants must choose one of the following classifications:
- EB-1: Alien of Extraordinary Ability
- EB-2: Alien of Exceptional Ability with a National Interest Waiver
- For EB-2 NIW cases, applicants must also submit a Form ETA-9089.
Key requirements of Form I-140G:
- Proof of eligibility under EB-1 or EB-2 requirements
- Evidence of sufficient funds to make the required gift
- Documentation showing the funds were obtained lawfully
- Electronic filing and payment of a $15,000 nonrefundable processing fee
- The actual financial gift to the U.S. government is made after Form I-140G is approved.
All Gold Card applicants are subject to:
- An in-depth DHS background check
- Expedited visa adjudication, according to trumpcard.gov
Dependents and Family Members
Spouses and unmarried children under 21 may accompany the principal cardholder, but:
- They must be included in the original application
- Each dependent requires:
- A separate $15,000 processing fee
- A separate financial gift (generally $1 million per person)
Current Program Status
- Applications for the Gold Card and Corporate Gold Card are live at Trumpcard.gov
- The Platinum Card waitlist is open
- The program is brand new, and key operational details continue to evolve
While the program offers a potentially faster and more flexible route to permanent residency for high-net-worth individuals and corporations, its long-term viability depends on Congressional action and regulatory guidance. Prospective applicants should proceed with caution and closely monitor future developments.
Our office is closely monitoring these developments and will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
For further questions or legal assistance, please contact Jacqueline Treviño at jtrevino@psbplaw.com.