The Trump Gold Card visa lets foreign nationals obtain U.S. lawful permanent residency by donating $1 million (plus a $15,000 vetting fee) to the U.S. government, which counts as evidence for eligibility under the EB-1 and EB-2 immigrant visa categories normally reserved for extraordinary ability or national interest. Corporations can sponsor employees for $2 million. The program, launched in December 2025, is pitched as a faster, wealth-based route to residency and eventually citizenship — though experts warn its legal foundation and interaction with existing visa law remain uncertain.
Why This Matters Now
This is one of the most ambitious attempts in modern U.S. history to monetize access to permanent residency. Unlike the existing EB-5 investor visa, which requires investment in job-creating enterprises, the Gold Card removes job creation entirely, substituting a direct payment to the federal Treasury for evidence of “extraordinary ability.” That’s a seismic shift in immigration policy — and it raises profound legal and economic questions.
What the Trump Gold Card Visa Actually Is
A New Immigration Pathway Tied to Money
On December 11, 2025, President Trump’s administration formally launched the Gold Card visa program, which offers foreign nationals a rapid way to secure lawful permanent resident status (a “green card”) by contributing money directly to the U.S. government.
Here’s the core structure:
- $1 million “gift” or contribution from an individual qualifies them for the program.
- A non-refundable $15,000 vetting and processing fee must be paid up front.
- Applicants undergo standard security and background checks by DHS and DOS, after which they are granted residency status under the EB-1 or EB-2 visa preference categories.
- Corporate sponsorship is available at $2 million per employee.
- The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce in cooperation with Homeland Security and the State Department.
Unlike EB-5, there’s no requirement to invest in a U.S. business, no job creation condition, and — in theory — no cap on the number of Gold Cards issued.
How This Links to EB-1 and EB-2 Visas
Reframing Existing Immigration Categories
Under U.S. immigration law, EB-1 visas are reserved for individuals with “extraordinary ability” (scientists, artists, business leaders), and EB-2 for those with advanced degrees or whose work serves the national interest. Those categories normally require documentary evidence of achievement, peer review, or proof of essential national benefit.
But the Gold Card executive order directs agencies to treat the $1M contribution as evidence of eligibility for these categories — effectively substituting money for merit. EY
This does not technically eliminate EB-1 or EB-2 visas — because those categories are set by statute. What the order does is change how those applications are adjudicated: the payment becomes presumptive evidence of qualifying ability or national benefit.
Fees and Financial Requirements Explained
What You Pay
To fully participate in the Gold Card program today, an applicant must:
- Pay a $15,000 processing and vetting fee, intended to cover DHS and DOS checks.
- Make the $1 million donation to the U.S. Treasury — described in official language as a “significant financial gift.”
- Undergo rigorous security screening and background checks.
For corporate sponsors, the cost is $2 million per sponsored employee, with additional fees (such as annual maintenance or transfer charges) reported in some sources.
How the Application Process Works Today
From Interest to Green Card Authority
Here’s a step-by-step overview based on official guidance and industry analysis:
- Interest Registration: Prospective applicants visit trumpcard.gov and register interest.
- Payment of Vetting Fee: A non-refundable $15,000 fee is submitted via the official portal.
- Background Checks: DHS and DOS conduct standard security and vetting procedures, including checks against criminal and national-security databases.
- $1M Contribution: Following clearance, the applicant makes the $1 million contribution to a separate Treasury fund.
- Visa Classification: USCIS processes the application under EB-1/EB-2 criteria nominally, though in practice the payment itself is treated as qualifying evidence.
- Consular or Adjustment Processing: Applicants complete visa stamping overseas or adjust status if already in the U.S.
Notably, the full legal and operational details — especially how adjustment of status is handled — remain incomplete and are likely to be clarified in coming months.
Why Lutnick’s Pitch Is Key — And Controversial
Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, has been the most public face of the program. In remarks accompanying the rollout, he touted the Gold Card as a way to attract global talent and generate revenue for the Treasury — with the potential to raise billions.
Lutnick’s assertions include:
- The program could raise over $100 billion in contributions.
- It helps retain top graduates from U.S. universities and other global talent.
- The processing and security vetting would be “more rigorous than ever before.”
But immigration lawyers and constitutional scholars contest the legal foundation of selling residency status via executive order — a power traditionally vested in Congress. Many argue that changes to statutory visa categories like EB-1 and EB-2 require legislative action, not executive fiat.
How It Differs from Existing Visa Programs
Compared to EB-5 (Investor Visa)
- EB-5: Requires investment in job-creating commercial enterprises (typically $800,000–$1.05M) and creation of at least 10 U.S. jobs.
- Gold Card: No jobs requirement; contribution directly to the Treasury satisfies eligibility for EB-1/EB-2 classification.
Compared to Traditional EB-1/EB-2
- Traditional EB-1/EB-2: Relies on documented excellence or national interest.
- Gold Card: Money serves as a proxy for those achievements.
Legal and Political Challenges Ahead
Legal experts widely predict litigation:
- Statutory authority doubts: Congress alone can modify immigration categories encoded in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Equal protection concerns: Critics argue that treating wealth as evidence of ability triggers constitutional and policy challenges.
- Operational uncertainty: Even the official application and adjudication process remains partially undefined.
Who Might Actually Use This Program?
The Gold Card is effectively targeted at ultra-wealthy individuals and families who:
- Have ready access to $1 million liquid for contribution,
- Seek fast entry and residency in the U.S., and
- May have professional talent but are willing to substitute money for traditional visa criteria.
Experts predict demand will concentrate in regions with significant high-net-worth populations (e.g., India, China, Middle East, Western Europe) — but also note that actual uptake and processing times will depend on rollout effectiveness and legal outcomes.
Broader Implications for U.S. Immigration
The Gold Card program intersects with several larger trends:
- Monetization of residency: Moving toward payment-based access to permanent residence.
- Shift away from skills and jobs: Traditional employment-based pathways now risk being de-emphasized.
- Revenue focus: Direct contributions to the Treasury shift part of immigration policy toward fiscal goals.
This contrasts sharply with decades-old policy that tied immigration status to work, family ties, or humanitarian grounds.
Conclusion — A Program in Flux With Massive Stakes
From my experience covering U.S. immigration and policy, the Gold Card visa is unlike anything seen in recent decades. It blends fiscal strategy with immigration policy in a way that invites both enthusiasm and deep skepticism. At its core, it challenges the traditional premise that residency should be earned through merit, work, or family — instead asserting that wealth can serve as eligibility. That’s a fundamental shift with legal, economic, and ethical stakes.
The rollout will likely face challenges in courts and Congress. Its ultimate shape — whether it becomes a stable, functioning pathway or remains mired in litigation and political pushback — will define U.S. immigration policy in the years to come.
FAQs
It’s a new U.S. immigration program allowing wealthy foreigners to obtain permanent residency by making a $1 million contribution and paying a vetting fee, with processing under EB-1/EB-2 categories.
The $15,000 fee covers vetting and processing by DHS and DOS, distinct from the $1 million donation that qualifies the applicant.
Officially no. The executive order directs agencies to treat contributions as qualifying evidence under EB-1 and EB-2 categories but does not abolish those categories by statute.
Yes. All applicants undergo standard security and background checks before residency status is granted.
Many experts argue the executive order oversteps Congress’s authority to set immigration criteria, and litigation is anticipated.
