The Trump Gold Card

• Step 1: Official Portal Registration & Fee: An individual or corporate sponsor must first submit an application via the official government portal (trumpcard.gov) providing basic information including name, contact information, place of birth, country of citizenship, etc. and pay the $15,000 non-refundable processing fee. Corporate sponsors may apply for multiple employees at once. Note: This payment is required before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will review and vet the application(s).
• Step 2: DHS Vetting & Form I-140G: Once the initial application and fee are processed, the applicant must file Form I-140G, Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program) online, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The agency will then conduct an in-depth background check and a Source of Funds (SOF) audit to ensure that  the donated funds which form the basis of the application come from a credible source.
• Step 3: The Donation Transfer: Upon the successful completion of the vetting, , an individual applicant must pay a $1 million donation, and a corporate sponsor must pay a $2 million donation directly to the Department of Commerce. Once the donation is received, the Form I-140G can be approved.
• Step 4: Final Processing & Visa Issuance: Consular Processing for Applicants Abroad: Once the I-140G petition is approved and when an immigrant visa number is available in the applicant’s requested classification (EB-1 or EB-2) and country of birth, they must complete consular processing with the U.S. Department of State at an embassy or consulate. This process entails:
  • Forms DS-260: Filing the Electronic Immigrant Visa Application.
  • Enhanced Biographic & Nationality Disclosure: Providing a full history of all current and prior citizenships, including those that have been relinquished.
  • Extended History Requirements: Unlike standard petitions, the Gold Card requires a full 20-year employment history, as well as a record of any government or military positions held at any time in the applicant’s life.
  • Final Interview: An in-person interview where a consular officer makes the final determination on admissibility.

The program’s initial framework mentions only consular processing which applies to applicants residing outside the United States. The government has not yet stated whether foreign nationals already in the United States will be permitted to apply for their immigrant visa by filing an adjustment of status application (I-485) with the USCIS.

The Gold Card’s key legal innovation is its directive to USCIS and Department of State adjudicators that a validated financial gift to the Department of Commerce constitutes presumptive evidence of immigrant visa eligibility.

EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability)

Under 8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(1)(A), a category traditionally limited to individuals with sustained national or international acclaim, the Order treats the ability and willingness to contribute $1 million to the U.S. Treasury as evidence of extraordinary ability in business.

EB-2 NIW (Exceptional Ability / National Interest Waiver)

Under 8 U.S.C. § 1153(b)(2)(B), the Order establishes that a direct capital infusion into the Treasury affirmatively benefits the Nation and therefore satisfies the Dhanasar national interest test.

Tax Implication

As with all U.S. citizens and permanent residents, applicants will be subject to U.S. tax, including on non-U.S. income.

Critical Considerations

• Source of Funds Vetting: While the Gold Card offers speed, the financial vetting is stricter than traditional visas. The government requires absolute clarity on the source of the “gift.” Unverified assets or gaps in financial history will lead to denial.
• Restricted Nationalities: Presidential Proclamation 10998 significantly expanded the list of nations whose citizens and permanent residents are not permitted to enter the U.S., effective January 1, 2026.
  • Full Suspension: Nationals from Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, as well as travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
  • Partial Suspension: Nationals from Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, Nigeria, Tanzania, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe (among others) are now blocked from receiving most immigrant and non-immigrant visas.

Please complete our pre-screening form before paying any government fees. Note for those born in India and China: While the Gold Card offers expedited processing of Form I-140G, it does not bypass statutory per-country visa caps. Applicants from backlogged countries will still be subject to Priority Date wait times as dictated by the State Department’s monthly Visa Bulletin.

• Financial Risk: It is crucial to understand that the payment is considered a gift, not an investment. As a direct donation to the U.S. Treasury, this contribution holds no financial equity or return, even if the applicant later chooses to abandon their status.
• Legal Disclosure: The Trump Gold Card program was established via Executive Order 14351 and not through Congressional legislation; therefore, its long-term availability is not guaranteed. In the event the program is struck down by a court, the U.S. Government has stated that all ‘gifts’ and ‘application fees’ are non-refundable. FGI strongly advises clients to weigh this financial risk before proceeding.