KATHMANDU, Dec 11: US President Donald Trump unveiled “Trump Gold Card”, a new immigration pathway that allows wealthy foreign nationals — or U.S. companies hiring foreign workers — to obtain permanent residency in exchange for large financial contributions to the US government.
The program marks one of key American immigration policy in recent years, coming amid a broader crackdown on both legal and illegal entry to the country.
The program’s official website, trumpcard.gov, has started accepting applications for what the administration describes as a “fast, simple, and efficient” route to U.S. permanent residency. The Gold Card functions similarly to a green card, according to Trump.
Under the new system, individual applicants must first pay a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security. Once background checks and document reviews are completed, applicants are required to make a $1 million “gift” to the US Treasury.
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If approved, the applicant will be granted permanent residency through the EB-1 or EB-2 visa categories, which are traditionally reserved for people with extraordinary or exceptional abilities.
Trump emphasized that the Gold Card would help retain top international talent graduating from elite American universities. “Companies are going to be able to go to the Wharton School of Finance, Stern Business School, Harvard, MIT — wherever you get your students — and you’re able to buy a card and keep that person in the United States,” he said.
For employers, the administration is offering the “Trump Corporate Gold Card.” This version allows companies to sponsor foreign workers by paying a $15,000 processing fee per employee and a $2 million gift following government vetting. In a unique feature, businesses may later stop sponsoring an employee and reassign the same financial contribution to sponsor a new worker without paying an additional $2 million. Corporate cards will also carry a 1% annual maintenance fee and a 5% transfer fee, which covers new background checks.
The website mentions that once a complete application is submitted, decisions may come within “weeks,” and applicants will need to attend a visa interview as part of the process. Additional State Department fees may apply depending on the circumstances.
The Trump administration also previewed an even higher-tier option: the “Trump Platinum Card.” Expected to launch soon, this version will require a $5 million contribution and will allow approved applicants to spend up to 270 days per year in the U.S. without being subject to U.S. taxes on their non-U.S. income. Interested individuals can already join a waiting list online.
The Gold Card program, first mentioned in February, follows Trump’s recent immigration restrictions introduced after the shooting deaths of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. While almost every other immigration pathway has faced new limits, the Gold Card offers what the administration calls a “premium alternative” aimed at attracting high-net-worth individuals and “top-tier talent.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has called the program as a modern replacement for the EB-5 investor visa, which traditionally required foreign investors to support U.S. job-creating projects. He has even suggested that millions of Gold Cards could be issued, potentially generating up to $1 trillion to reduce the national debt.
Despite the bold promises, immigration law experts warn that changing or replacing EB-5 may require congressional action, raising questions about the program’s long-term legal foundation. But the administration insists the Gold Card represents a new era of immigration based on financial contribution and exceptional merit.
