Trump Gold Card (2025): Requirements, Benefits, Price, and How the I-140G Process Works

Index

• Trump Gold Card Visa: Is It a Visa or a Green Card Program?
• Trump Gold Card Program: Key Features at a Glance
• Trump Gold Card Requirements: Eligibility and Conditions
• Trump Gold Card Benefits: What You Actually Get
• How Does the Trump Gold Card Application Process Work?
• Trump Gold Card Price and Cost (Fees + $1M Gift)
• Who Is the Trump Gold Card Really For?
• How Does the Trump Gold Card Compare to EB-5 and Traditional EB-1 / EB-2?
• Trump Platinum Card: Where Does It Stand Now?
• Is the Trump Gold Card Legal and What Is Its Future?
• Is the Trump Gold Card the Right Immigration Route for You?
• Trump Gold Card: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

As of December 11, 2025, the Trump Gold Card Program is open for applications. The program's official website is live, Form I-140G is in effect at USCIS, and the application process, fees, and legal framework are now largely defined.

President Donald Trump first announced the exciting program on September 19, 2025, through Executive Order 14351 (“The Gold Card”). Under this order, foreign nationals who make at least a $1,000,000 “gift” to the United States can seek expedited lawful permanent residence (green card) under the EB-1 or EB-2 categories. For corporate applications, the required gift is $2,000,000 per employee.

Important clarification: The Trump Gold Card is an immigration program, not a credit card or financial product.

Trump Gold Card Visa: Is It a Visa or a Green Card Program?

The program is best understood as a green card pathway, not a separate nonimmigrant visa classification. Applicants file through Form I-140G under EB-1 or EB-2, and the final step depends on where the applicant is located:

• Outside the U.S.: the case proceeds through consular immigrant visa processing once the priority date is current.

• Inside the U.S. (eligible status): the applicant typically completes the last step through Form I-485 adjustment of status.

Trump Gold Card Program: Key Features at a Glance

Note: For official details on eligibility, procedures, and current terms, applicants should review the Trump Card official website and USCIS’s Form I-140G page. 

Trump Gold Card Requirements: Eligibility and Conditions

• Admissibility: the applicant must be admissible to the United States and able to pass required government screening.
• EB framework: the filing is routed through EB-1 or EB-2 (including EB-2 NIW concepts). The Gold Card does not replace the underlying EB system; it is designed to operate within it.
• Visa availability: visa number availability rules still apply. Annual EB caps and per-country limits can affect timing.
• Fee requirement: the nonrefundable $15,000 processing fee applies per person listed.
• Gift requirement: the qualifying gift is required (individual versus corporate amounts), and the government reviews identity, security issues, and source of funds.
• Document requests: applicants should expect requests for documentation or explanations if anything in background screening or source-of-funds review needs clarification.

Trump Gold Card Benefits: What You Actually Get

If a case successfully reaches completion under EB-1 or EB-2 processing, the benefit is the standard end result: lawful permanent residence (a green card) under U.S. immigration law.

In practical terms, benefits may include:

1. A structured route to permanent residence using a dedicated filing track (Form I-140G) tied to the program.
2. Potentially faster handling at early administrative stages compared with some standard filings while total timing can still be limited by visa availability and backlogs.
3. Corporate mobility features (for employer use cases) that may be useful for relocating senior talent.

How Does the Trump Gold Card Application Process Work?

1. The process starts when the applicant completes the online Gold Card form on the official website. After the form is submitted, the system sends the applicant to a U.S. Department of the Treasury payment page to collect a nonrefundable $15,000 DHS/USCIS filing fee for each person listed in the application (principal applicant, spouse, and unmarried children under 21). This is the official per-person fee for Form I-140G.
2. Once the fee has been paid, DHS/USCIS carries out a detailed background check on the applicant/applicants, looking at identity, security issues, and the source of funds. Additional documents or explanations may be requested.
3. When this initial review is complete, USCIS instructs the individual applicant or corporate sponsor to create a myUSCIS online account and to file Form I-140G (Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program) electronically.
4. If the preliminary review of security and the source of the funds is favorable, the applicant or sponsor receives wiring instructions for the $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 gift to the U.S. Treasury. When the gift is received, USCIS will approve the I-140G and place the case in line under the relevant EB-1 / EB-2 immigrant visa category.
5. When the case’s priority date becomes “current” on the Visa Bulletin, applicants outside the United States complete consular immigrant visa processing. Applicants in the United States who are in an eligible status complete the process through Form I-485 adjustment of status (green card application). At that stage, the Department of State also collects immigrant visa fees and applicants must complete the required medical exam.

Official statements suggest that once the Gold Card application and DHS filing fee are received, the process may move forward within “weeks.” In practice, overall timing can vary widely from case to case because of EB visa quotas, per-country demand, and consular interview backlogs.

Trump Gold Card Price and Cost (Fees + $1M Gift)

The minimum out-of-pocket cost typically starts at $1,000,000 plus a $15,000 per-person filing fee.

Fees page: Gold Card cost and fees breakdown

Who Is the Trump Gold Card Really For?

Compared with traditional EB-1 / EB-2 or EB-5 paths, the Trump Gold Card targets a relatively small group of applicants. It is generally considered by people who care about speed, a defined government program track or corporate mobility, while still recognizing that visa number availability can limit the overall timeline.

In practice, the program is most relevant for:

• Ultra high net worth individuals who can treat the total cost as a nonrecoverable immigration expense.

• Large multinational employers that use the corporate version as a talent mobility tool for executives and key employees.

• Applicants whose profiles are already close to EB-1A (extraordinary ability) or EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) standards and who want a route that explicitly treats the qualifying gift as part of the evidentiary package under EB criteria.

It is generally a poor fit for applicants who need the lowest-cost strategy or whose timeline is already constrained by employment-based backlogs, because the program does not change the underlying EB-1 / EB-2 visa allocation system.

How Does the Trump Gold Card Compare to EB-5 and Traditional EB-1 / EB-2?

Many people compare the donation-based Gold Card structure to the investment-based EB-5 program. On paper they can all lead to a green card, but the way they work and the type of applicant they are built for are quite different.

1. Investment vs. donation structure

Under EB-5, the money is placed into a commercial project such as a regional center fund, real estate development, hotel, or similar business. The investor takes on business risk and there is at least a hope that part of the capital will be returned over time.

With the Gold Card, the required amount is an unconditional, nonrefundable gift to the U.S. government (often described in the program language as an “unrestricted gift”). There is no legal expectation that the money will be returned or treated as capital that can be recovered later.

2. Job creation requirement

EB-5 has a core requirement: the investment must create at least ten full time jobs within a set period. If the job creation requirement is not met, the investor’s green card can be at risk.

The Gold Card has no job creation requirement. The government treats the gift itself as the economic benefit to the United States. From the applicant’s perspective, that removes the burden of tracking jobs and proving that a business plan has produced enough employment.

3. Visa caps and processing speed

The Trump Gold Card has been marketed as a way to obtain status in record time, but the program does not change the basic math of EB-1 and EB-2 visa numbers. Annual employment based visa caps and the 7 percent per country limit still apply.

The donation and the special I-140G route may help a case get filed and reviewed more quickly, and some Gold Card cases may be handled ahead of other EB-1 / EB-2 filings. For applicants from heavily backlogged countries, though, it does not erase all waiting time. Some people may only move further forward in the same line rather than stepping into a completely separate track.

4. Status and tax treatment

A successful Trump Gold Card applicant becomes a lawful permanent resident in the same sense as any other EB-1 or EB-2 green card holder. That status comes with the usual benefits, including the ability to apply for U.S. citizenship later if all naturalization requirements are met.

On the tax side, Gold Card recipients are treated like other green card holders. They are subject to U.S. tax on their worldwide income. The program’s own materials make clear that the Gold Card does not itself provide a special tax shelter.

See the comparison of US investor visas at a glance: Trump Gold Card vs EB-5 vs Platinum: differences that matter

Trump Platinum Card: Where Does It Stand Now?

The Trump Platinum Card is the second program announced alongside the Gold Card, but it has not actually gone live yet.

According to the official descriptions, the Platinum Card is supposed to offer up to 270 days of physical presence in the United States each year while the cardholder is not subject to U.S. tax on non-U.S. source income during that time.

In return, applicants are expected to make a $5,000,000 gift. At this stage there is no active filing process. There is only a waitlist for people who want to reserve a place if the program is implemented.

The tax piece is the most controversial part. Many tax professionals and legal commentators have pointed out that a broad exemption of this kind would not sit easily with the current Internal Revenue Code, and that a permanent carve-out of this scope would likely require a clear act of Congress rather than only executive action.

Is the Trump Gold Card Legal and What Is Its Future?

The Trump Gold Card program is not based on a new immigration statute passed by Congress. It rests on Executive Order 14351. That structure makes its long-term future dependent on changes in the political landscape, possible court challenges, and any action Congress might decide to take.

Because the required gifts are so large and the filing fees are nonrefundable, anyone considering the Gold Card has to look at more than just the short-term benefits. The possibility that a future administration or court could scale the program back or shut it down altogether should be part of any serious immigration and financial planning discussion.

Is the Trump Gold Card the Right Immigration Route for You?

The Trump Gold Card is a high-end option for ultra-high-net-worth individuals who want speed, flexibility, or an EB-1 / EB-2 case backed by a qualifying gift.

For others, more traditional employment-based green card strategies (such as EB-1A for extraordinary ability or EB-2 NIW for a National Interest Waiver) and investor options (such as EB-5 or, in some cases, the E-2 investor visa) can turn out to be more balanced and more appropriate in the long run.

If you are considering the Trump Gold Card as a high-investment immigration option, or you want clear information about other employment- or investment-based green card paths, you can reach Gozel Law for an initial assessment at info@gozellaw.com.

Trump Gold Card: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Trump Gold Card?

The Trump Gold Card is a U.S. immigration program launched in 2025 that lets eligible applicants pursue a green card through an I-140G filing tied to a qualifying financial gift.

Is the Trump Gold Card a visa?

It is best described as a green card pathway (EB-1 or EB-2). Applicants outside the U.S. still complete immigrant visa processing at a consulate once a visa number is available.

What are the Trump Gold Card requirements?

Applicants must pay the nonrefundable $15,000 per-person fee, pass background and source-of-funds review, file Form I-140G as directed, and make the required gift ($1M individual or $2M corporate per employee).

How much does the Trump Gold Card cost?

The minimum cost typically starts at a $1,000,000 gift plus a $15,000 per-person filing fee. Additional government fees and medical exam costs apply later in the process.

Can my spouse and children be included?

Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included, but each family member is usually treated as a separate applicant with a separate $15,000 filing fee and a separate $1,000,000 gift for each person, plus any later government and professional fees.

How does the I-140G process work?

Applicants pre-register online, pay the per-person fee, complete background and source-of-funds review, file I-140G via a USCIS account, then make the gift if instructed. Final green card steps follow standard EB processing.

How is the Trump Gold Card different from EB-5?

EB-5 is an at-risk investment tied to job creation. The Gold Card is structured as a nonrefundable gift to the U.S. government and does not require job creation.

How long does the Trump Gold Card take?

Early steps may move quickly, but total timing can still depend on EB visa caps, per-country limits, and consular backlogs.

Does the Trump Gold Card lead to U.S. citizenship?

Yes. The Trump Gold Card is not a direct citizenship program, but if your case is approved and you become a lawful permanent resident, you can later apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization once you meet the usual requirements (residence, physical presence, good moral character, and similar rules).

Is the $5 million Trump Platinum Card available?

The Platinum version of the Trump Card has been announced but has not been implemented as an active USCIS filing track in the same way as the standard "golden card" program.

Further Reading

• EB-2 NIW Green Card: National Interest Waiver Explained (2025)

• EB-1A Visa: An Extraordinary Path to Permanent Residency in the United States

• What Is the EB-5 Visa and How Can You Obtain It?

• What Is the E-2 Investor Visa and How Can It Be Obtained?

• E-2 Investor Visa FAQ (2025)

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Your situation may be very different, so you should speak directly with a qualified U.S. immigration attorney (and, if needed, a tax professional) before making any decisions.