The Trump administration officially launched the Gold Card program on Wednesday, December 10, introducing a significant, expedited pathway to permanent U.S. residency. This new initiative is designed to attract substantial foreign financial contributions to the United States by replacing the job creation requirements mandatory in other investor programs like the EB-5 visa.
Financial Requirements
The program is structured around a non-refundable financial contribution, or “gift,” to the U.S. government. For an individual foreigner seeking to self-petition, the required gift is $1 million USD, plus a $15,000 non-refundable visa processing fee.
Alternatively, companies can participate by providing a gift of $2 million USD to sponsor a foreign worker for the Gold Card. A crucial and costly detail is the treatment of dependents: each accompanying family member, including a spouse or child, requires an additional $1 million gift plus the standard $15,000 processing fee. For corporate sponsors, the $2 million gift is generally reusable (with an annual maintenance and transfer fee) if the original employee leaves, allowing the company to sponsor a replacement worker.
Application and Eligibility
The formal application process begins with the submission of Form I-40G, Immigrant Petition Under the Gold Card Program. This form must be completed and uploaded through a MyUSCIS account.
Gold Card applicants must technically meet the standards of one of two existing, high-skilled employment-based visa classifications: either the EB-1 Alien of EB-1: Alien of Extraordinary Ability or the EB-2 Alien of Exceptional Ability seeking a National Interest Waiver (EB-2 NIW). However, the hefty financial contribution is purportedly treated as sufficient proof of extraordinary ability or national interest, potentially supplementing or replacing the traditional evidentiary standards (such as major awards or voluminous publications) that normally apply to the I-140 petition.
Rigorous Vetting and Financial Traceability
The I-40G application involves an extensive background and financial review process designed to ensure the lawfulness and traceability of the funds. Petitioners must provide a broad range of documentation, including up to 5 years of bank returns, 7 years of tax records, and 20 years of work history. The administration has included specific instructions for funds originating from cryptocurrency, requiring that all such assets be traceable through the blockchain with wallet identification and must pass through a known wallet exchange and regulated financial institutions.
The form instructs applicants to “refer to the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin to see the availability of immigrant visas for each classification.” This confirms that “Gold Card” applicants are subject to the same priority dates and backlogs as standard applicants.
How Long is the Gold Card Process?
According to the official program page, the visa petition (I-140G) adjudication is expected to take “weeks.” This rapid processing essentially serves as a premium, fast-track service for the initial petition approval.
However, this fast track does not bypass the queue for the final green card itself. The application explicitly instructs applicants to “refer to the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin to see the availability of immigrant visas for each classification.” This confirms that Gold Card applicants are subject to the same statutory priority dates and per-country backlogs as standard EB-1 and EB-2 applicants. Therefore, an individual may pay the substantial fee and receive quick I-140G approval, but nationals of countries with high demand (such as India and China) may still face a waiting period of multiple years for their priority date to become current before they can enter the U.S. or file for adjustment of status.
Platinum Card Update
In addition to the gold card, the website launched the platinum card with the message “coming soon.” This second-tier offering promises to grant individuals the ability to spend up to 270 days in the United States annually without being subjected to U.S. taxes on their non-U.S. income, in exchange for an even larger contribution: a $5 million USD gift to the U.S. government. The site currently provides interested parties with the opportunity to join an official wait list.