Trump Gold Card Program FAQs

• What is the Trump Gold Card?

  A new visa program launched December 10, 2025, offering an expedited pathway to U.S. permanent residency (green card) through financial contributions to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

• Who can apply?

  • Individual foreign nationals with $1 million to contribute

  • Employees sponsored by corporations paying $2 million per employee

• What are the costs?

  Individual Applicants:

  • $1 million gift to the Department of Commerce

  • $15,000 non-refundable processing fee per person

  • Additional $1 million + $15,000 per family member

  Corporate Sponsored:

  • $2 million gift per employee

  • $15,000 processing fee per employee

  • Additional $1 million + $15,000 per family member

  • $20,000 annual maintenance fee (1%)

  • $100,000 transfer fee (5%) if switching sponsored employees

• What visa category does Gold Card fall under?

  Approved applicants will be classified as either:

  • EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability); or

  • EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver)

  The financial gift serves as evidence of eligibility for these categories.

• What is the application process?

  The following process is subject to change:

  1. Register online at trumpcard.gov

  2. Submit Gold Card application and $15,000 processing fee

  3. USCIS contacts applicant to submit Form I-140G with proof of funds

  4. Background check and vetting conducted

  5. If approved, pay the financial ‘gift’, of $1M for individual, $2M for corporate sponsor, in addition to $1M for each family member

  6. Proceed to consular processing via Form DS-260G at U.S. embassy/consulate

• Can I apply from within the United States?

  This is currently unclear. The program instructions do not specify whether applicants already in the U.S. can file for adjustment of status.

• How long does the process take?

  Despite claims of being "expedited," processing times remain unclear and may be lengthy due to:

  • Immigrant visa quota backlogs, which may impact persons from certain countries 

  • Consular processing timeframes (several months, depending on location)

  • June 2025 travel ban restrictions affecting 19 countries

• Can corporations transfer their sponsorship to a different employee?

  Yes. Corporations can transfer their $2 million contribution from one employee to another by paying:

  • $100,000 transfer fee (5%) which includes the cost of new DHS background check

• Are there visa number limitations?

  Yes. Approved applicants still need an available visa number under EB-1 or EB-2 categories, which currently face significant backlogs for certain countries.

  The program does not create new visa categories or increase annual visa limits (which would require Congressional action).

• What are the key limitations and concerns?

  • May not be truly "expedited" depending on visa demand, and country of birth due to visa backlogs and consular processing delays

  • Unclear if adjustment of status processing is available for those who are already in the U.S.

  • Subject to travel ban restrictions for 19 countries

  • May result in longer green card wait times for all employment-based categories, due to limited availability of immigrant visas under the existing quotas 

  • Program will face litigation challenges due to questionable legal foundation – court injunction could impact pending applications

• Is my $15,000 processing fee refundable?

  No. The $15,000 processing fee is non-refundable regardless of approval outcome.

• Should I apply for the Trump Gold Card?

  Given the uncertainties, high costs, unclear processing times, and potential legal challenges, we recommend consulting with an immigration attorney to evaluate whether this program is appropriate for your situation versus traditional employment-based immigration pathways. There may be other options that are faster and less expensive, depending on your specific situation.