The Trump administration on Wednesday launched the Gold Card initiative, allowing foreign nationals to obtain U.S. legal residency in exchange for a $1 million contribution. The program also includes a Corporate Gold Card for businesses, which requires a $2 million contribution.
President Donald Trump and other officials promoted the launch of the official website, trumpcard.gov, emphasizing that the program provides a direct path to U.S. citizenship for qualified and vetted individuals and companies. Qualified applicants will receive expedited EB-1 or EB-2 green cards after background checks and a $15,000 processing fee, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Businesses can use the Corporate Gold Card to secure residency for employees under the same process.
The Gold Card initiative was established by an executive order signed by Trump in September, following a proposal he outlined earlier in the year. The program initially had a proposed price of $5 million. The order set a Dec. 18 deadline for applications, and a draft of the required Form I-140G was published in the Federal Register last month. The launch coincides with a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, another initiative expected to generate federal revenue. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick estimates the combined programs could bring in up to $100 billion.