President Donald Trump Officially Announces the “Gold Card” Residency Program Starting at US$1 Million
September 22, 2025 · EB-5 · 16 min read
On September 19, 2025, in the Oval Office of the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order announcing the Trump Gold Card program. This is a new visa that allows foreign individuals or companies to become U.S. permanent residents through a financial contribution of at least US$1 million.
The policy promises substantial revenue for the budget and an economic lever; at the same time, it has sparked intense debate over social fairness, legal questions, and the nature of the U.S. immigration system.
What is the Trump Gold Card? How it works and what it offers
1. Nature and objectives
The “Trump Gold Card” is established under the President’s authority and existing immigration regulations. It is seen as a bold step toward broad reform of the country’s immigration system.
Speaking about the program, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the main objective is to mobilize private capital to strengthen the budget and ease the burden on public services. “This is a new source of capital,” Lutnick said, noting the program is expected to raise at least US$100 billion in the initial phase alone.
The core difference between the Gold Card and traditional residency programs is the change in screening criteria. Instead of relying on professional skills, academic degrees, or labor contributions, the program allows foreign nationals to obtain U.S. residency through financial capacity. In essence, the initiative turns residency into an asset that can be acquired through a direct financial contribution.
Gold Card – Trump Card (Source: Forbes)
2. Contribution levels and forms of participation
- For individuals: A contribution of US$1 million is required to obtain U.S. permanent resident status.
- For companies: A company may sponsor its employees with a contribution of US$2 million per person. Notably, this benefit can be transferred to other personnel in the future, giving companies flexibility.
- Filing fee: Every applicant must pay a non-refundable processing fee of US$15,000.
In addition, a higher-tier card called the “Trump Platinum Card” has also been introduced and is expected to launch soon. With a contribution of US$5 million, holders would reportedly enjoy one privilege: permission to stay in the U.S. for up to 270 days per year with a stated exemption from U.S. tax on worldwide income. This is a significant tax benefit that, as announced, promises to attract the world’s ultra-wealthy.
3. Legal basis and implementation
- Financial management: Contributions under the Gold Card program will be received and managed by the Department of Commerce, then transferred to a separate fund within the U.S. Treasury.
- Implementation: Within 90 days of the executive order, three agencies — the Department of Commerce, the Department of State, and the Department of Homeland Security — must issue detailed guidance on the filing and adjudication process.
- Legal framework: The Gold Card is essentially built on the existing EB-1 and EB-2 visa categories. However, instead of requiring applicants to demonstrate “extraordinary ability” or outstanding achievements, the main requirement is replaced by a financial contribution under the new rules.
Application and adjudication process
According to Forbes and U.S. government statements, the Gold Card process is designed to be streamlined and fast:
- Online registration: Applicants visit and create a file on the program’s official portal: https://trumpcard.gov/
- Complete the file: Provide full personal information and the required financial documents.
- Pay the filing fee: Complete payment of the non-refundable US$15,000 processing fee.
- Security screening: The file undergoes rigorous background, security, and anti-money-laundering checks. This process is led by agencies within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Fast approval: If the file meets all requirements and passes security screening, the applicant is granted permanent resident status within a very short period. The process is expected to take only a few months, considerably faster than current visa categories.
Comparing the Trump Gold Card and the EB-5 program
Criteria
Trump Gold Card
EB-5 program
Nature
A new executive order by President Trump, based on a non-refundable financial contribution to the government.
A program enacted by Congress, long-established and stable, based on investment that creates U.S. jobs.
Financial threshold
– Individuals: US$1 million (direct contribution).
– Companies: US$2 million to sponsor personnel.
– Platinum Card: US$5 million, with a stated tax benefit.
– US$800,000 (Targeted Employment Area – TEA).
– US$1,050,000 (non-TEA areas).
Capital use requirements
The contribution is paid into a fund administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. No job creation or project investment is required.
Capital must be invested “at risk” in economic projects that create jobs. A minimum of 10 full-time jobs for U.S. citizens or permanent residents is required.
Processing time
Aimed at expedited processing, with an estimated few months from filing.
Processing times are currently reported at 1–2 years.
Residency benefits
– Direct grant of a permanent green card. – Opens a path to naturalization similar to the EB-1/EB-2 categories.
– The Platinum Card carries a 270-day-per-year residency privilege without U.S. tax on worldwide income.
– A conditional green card is granted for 2 years.
– After 2 years, the investor must file to remove conditions to receive a permanent green card, upon showing that the required jobs have been created.
– Naturalization may be available once the residence requirements are met.
Risks
– The legal framework is new, established only by executive order, and remains subject to the direction and approval of future administrations.
– There is no practical precedent yet for assessing long-term stability.
– Financial risk from the investment project (return of capital, job creation).
– Timing risk from backlogs. However, the legal framework is stable and has a track record of implementation.
Who it suits
– Investors and business owners with strong financial capacity who need a fast solution with few strings attached.
– Ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking international tax efficiency.
– Investors who want a stable immigration path with clear legal footing and limited political risk.
– Families planning long-term relocation who need a capital-preservation scenario and are willing to accept a waiting period in exchange for a pathway tested over time.
Opportunity and risk assessment for investors
Although the Gold Card has been praised in the media as a new initiative with the potential to reshape the U.S. immigration system, investors should recognize that the program still carries significant legal risk, since it has so far been established only by executive order.
Against that backdrop, the EB-5 program, with its solid legal foundation in Congress, remains the path that offers greater certainty. For investors whose primary goal is capital preservation, EB-5 is a far more suitable choice, because it is by nature an investment with the potential to be repaid, rather than a non-refundable contribution such as the Gold Card.
IMM Group – a strategic partner for your family’s U.S. immigration journey
The global investment migration landscape is constantly shifting and increasingly complex. Investors need an advisory partner who not only helps them prepare a sound application but also gives their family peace of mind about the future. For the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, as for all of our global investment migration solutions, IMM Group acts as a strategic advisory partner, supporting you with experience and integrity.
As a pioneering, long-established firm with more than 21 years of hands-on experience in Vietnam, IMM Group is not a sales agent, and we do more than advise: we design global investment migration solutions built on:
- Rigorous due diligence and risk management: Our experience successfully handling hundreds of cases, including complex ones, enables us to conduct multi-layered project due diligence and protect investors’ interests rigorously, even during market crises.
- In-depth professional consulting and full transparency: Every IMM Group advisor and case manager is certified in investment migration advisory by the Investment Migration Council (IMC). Our team analyzes benefits and risks in full, so you can make decisions based on complete and accurate information. We put our clients’ long-term interests first.
- Integrity and commitment every step of the way: Guided by our philosophy, “Serving with Authentic Values,” IMM Group stays with you from the first step until you have settled in your new country. Integrity is our foundation, reflected in our readiness to stand up for clients’ interests and to proactively refund service fees when risks beyond the client’s control arise, as set out in the contract.
- Receiving and giving back: Since 2025, IMM Group has operated as a nonprofit enterprise, committing at least 50% of its annual profits to the Be Better Fund. By choosing IMM Group, you also help hundreds of students facing exceptional hardship gain a chance to change their lives.
If you are considering a U.S. green card through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, contact IMM Group or leave your details below. Our experienced advisors will provide detailed guidance and help assess your petition’s likelihood of success. We will keep your personal data confidential and use the information you provide only to advise on your family’s case.
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- Tags:
- U.S. investor immigration through EB-5
- EB-5 program
- Immigration Gold Card
- Trump Gold Card
- Trump Platinum Card
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