Trump launches ‘Gold Card’ immigration pathway
The Trump administration has launched a "Gold Card" program that offers permanent‑residency approvals—issued as EB‑1 or EB‑2 green cards—in exchange for a $1 million donation to the U.S. government (a corporate option is $2 million per worker) plus a nonrefundable $15,000 DHS vetting fee, with an application page live at trumpcard.gov. The administration positions the plan as a faster replacement for the EB‑5 investor visa with no job‑creation or business‑investment requirement and, according to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, includes corporate transferability and a path to U.S. citizenship after five years; critics say it resembles a pay‑to‑play scheme.
📌 Key Facts
- The Gold Card program sells visa-style residency: $1 million per individual Gold Card and a $2 million corporate option to obtain one card per worker; each card covers only one individual.
- Applicants must pay a nonrefundable $15,000 DHS vetting/processing fee up front; there is also a 1% annual maintenance fee on Gold Cards.
- Corporations can buy cards for workers, obtain multiple cards, and later transfer a card to a different employee (cards may be transferred between employees for a 5% transfer fee).
- Gold Card approvals will be issued as EB-1 or EB-2 employment-based green cards and—according to the administration—offer a path to U.S. citizenship after five years.
- The administration positions the program as replacing the EB‑5 investor visa: it removes EB‑5’s job‑creation/business‑investment requirements and caps and aims for far shorter processing timelines (the government says approvals could take only weeks versus years).
- The White House and Trump have framed the Gold Card as “somewhat like a green card, but with big advantages,” saying all funds go to the U.S. government and predicting the program will bring in “billions” to Treasury and help retain “tremendous people.”
- The government published an application landing page at trumpcard.gov.
- The program includes a higher tier: a $5 million “platinum card” that reportedly allows up to 270 days in the U.S. without paying federal income tax on non‑U.S. income.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, Asian nationals accounted for 9 in 10 EB-5 visas issued, with Chinese nationals receiving more than 63% of the total, compared to Asians comprising about 6% of the overall U.S. population.
Asians Accounted for 9 in 10 EB-5 Visas Issued in 2023, But Tens of Thousands Still Waiting — IMI Daily
The EB-5 program has brought more than $5.36 billion into the U.S. economy since 2022 and has supported over 85,000 jobs.
EB-5 Fiscal Year 2024: Official Data Overview — Second Wind
Citizenship by investment programs, including golden passports, are vulnerable to abuse by criminals for money laundering, hiding assets, and avoiding extradition, as highlighted in a 2023 FATF report.
Golden Passports Make It Too Easy for Criminals, FATF Report Finds — OCCRP
📰 Sources (4)
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick detailed publicly that the Gold Card costs $1 million for individuals and $2 million per worker for corporations, plus a $15,000 vetting fee.
- Lutnick said Gold Card holders have a path to U.S. citizenship after five years, and corporations can later place a different employee on an existing card.
- The government has published an application landing page at trumpcard.gov.
- Trump said the program would generate 'billions' in revenue and help retain 'tremendous people,' framing the payment as a 'gift' to the U.S.
- Gold Card approvals will be issued as EB-1 or EB-2 employment-based green cards, per the program website.
- Applicants must pay a nonrefundable $15,000 DHS processing fee, pass vetting/interview, then make a $1 million donation to the U.S. government.
- Corporate option: employers can obtain one Gold Card per worker for a $2 million donation; cards may be transferred between employees for a 5% transfer fee.
- Ongoing costs include a 1% annual maintenance fee.
- A $5 million ‘platinum card’ allows up to 270 days in the U.S. without paying federal income tax on non‑U.S. income.
- Administration claims processing could take only weeks, versus years for many standard green cards.
- Program is positioned as replacing EB‑5, with no job‑creation or business‑investment requirement and far shorter timelines than EB‑5 (cited ~6 years).
- Trump quote: the Gold Card is “somewhat like a green card, but with big advantages over a green card.”
- AP frames the program as replacing the EB‑5 visa, noting EB‑5’s job‑creation and cap structure and that Trump made no mention of such requirements or caps for the Gold Card at launch.
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the vetting fee is $15,000 (confirming cost) and stated companies can obtain multiple cards but each card covers only one individual.
- Lutnick asserted current green‑card holders earn less than the average American and said the new program aims to change that.
- Trump quote: “Basically, it’s a green card but much better,” and he reiterated that all funds go to the U.S. government, predicting billions would flow into a Treasury account.