Business Immigration Insights

The Trump Gold Card announced by Executive Order in September 2025 is now available.  The Gold Card is touted as fast-track to lawful permanent residence compared to the normal employment- or family-based permanent residence process.  The application fee is $15,000 per person, plus a $375 processing fee.  For individuals, a $1 million “contribution” must be made to the United States.  Family members also must pay the application fee and make the contribution.  If a corporation is sponsoring an employee, the contribution is $2 million.  While clarification is needed, the corporation can transfer “access” to the Gold Card from one employee to another for a 5% transfer fee.  Corporate Gold Cards require a 1% maintenance fee.

The application fee can be paid here and the Gold Card petition form/instructions can be found here.

The program is a modified version of the EB-5 investor visa program but requires the beneficiary to request classification under one of the current employment-based categories: aliens of extraordinary ability or aliens of exceptional ability seeking a National Interest Waiver.  Neither the instructions to the Gold Card petition form nor the petition form itself explain what documentation must be provided to demonstrate qualification under one of the two categories, if any or the types of documentation required to demonstrate the availability and legal source of the funds. The petition form focuses on the individual and the source of the contribution so that the government can confirm that the funds come from a legal source.  Applicants file the form electronically through the person’s online MyUSCIS account. Processing times have not been provided but are said to be faster than the “normal” employment-based permanent residence process.  However, if the applicants fall under the current visa allocation system, the process may not be speedier than the traditional process. There is no information as to whether a separate allotment of visas will be available to those applying for Gold Cards, which may require Congressional intervention.

Coming soon:  the Platinum Card.  Holders of the platinum card who spend no more than 270 days in the United States will not be subject to US taxation on non-US income.  The contribution to obtain this status is $5 million.  If the Platinum Card goes live, it will likely require Congressional intervention to address the tax benefits promised.