The new initiative offers expedited permanent residency in exchange for large capital contributions, placing the United States within a global trend of investment-based immigration programs.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Applications opened Dec. 10 for the Trump administration’s new Gold Card visa initiative, a program designed to accelerate permanent residency for wealthy individuals and businesses deemed beneficial to the U.S. economy.
The program, initiated by President Donald Trump and administered by the Department of Commerce, allows noncitizens to pursue lawful permanent resident status through direct financial contributions to the federal government.
Under the initiative, individual applicants may qualify by donating $1 million to the United States, passing a background check, and paying a $15,000 nonrefundable processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security. The program also includes a corporate component, requiring participating businesses to donate $2 million and pay the same processing fee.
“It’ll take in, we think, probably billions of dollars that will go to the Treasury of the United States, that will go to an account where we can do things [that are] positive for the country,” Trump said during a roundtable meeting with business leaders on Dec. 10.
Gold Card holders become eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship after five years. Successful applicants receive lawful permanent resident status equivalent to EB-1 or EB-2 visas and may live and work throughout all 50 states and U.S. territories. Standard visa terms apply, and status may be revoked over national security or significant criminal activity concerns.
The Gold Card differs from the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa, which requires foreign investors to invest approximately $800,000 to $1.05 million in U.S. businesses and create at least 10 full-time jobs for American workers. While EB-5 focuses on job creation and private investment, the Gold Card is structured around direct contributions to the federal government.
To apply, applicants must submit materials through trumpcard.gov along with the nonrefundable processing fee. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services then conducts background checks before granting permanent resident status.
The corporate version of the Gold Card includes an annual maintenance requirement. Participating businesses must pay a 1 percent annual fee, or $20,000. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said tens of thousands had already signed up for the $5 million tier of the program by mid-June.
According to the program website, a Platinum Card will be launched soon. That option will cost $5 million and allow holders to spend up to 270 days per year in the United States without being subject to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income.
Similar residency-by-investment programs operate in Europe, the United Kingdom, and smaller nations such as St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica. Portugal allows residency through real-estate investment starting around $580,000, while Greece offers residency beginning at approximately $300,000.
The Gold Card initiative follows the administration’s announcement of a U.S. sovereign wealth fund shortly after Trump’s January inauguration. In his Feb. 3 order directing development of the fund, Trump said the United States could surpass even Saudi Arabia’s fund, which totals $925 billion.
“The United States can leverage such returns to promote fiscal sustainability, lessen the burden of taxes on American families and small businesses, establish long-term economic security, and promote U.S. economic and strategic leadership internationally,” Trump said in the order.
The rollout comes amid broader immigration enforcement actions. In early November, the administration revoked roughly 80,000 visas for reasons including terrorism support, criminal activity, public safety threats, and overstays. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post that the State Department “will always put the safety and interests of the American people first.”
Among the revocations, 16,000 were related to driving under the influence, 12,000 to assault, and 8,000 to theft. State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration “will not hesitate to revoke visas from foreigners who undermine our laws or threaten our national security.”
The administration has also invalidated visas for foreign nationals who publicly celebrated the Sept. 10 assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, stating that the United States has no obligation to host individuals who endorse violence against Americans.
In September, Trump announced an additional $100,000 fee for new applicants to the high-skilled H-1B visa program.
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