President Trump has unveiled “Gold Card” Program which offers a fast-track to U.S. Residency for $1 Million.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that President Donald Trump has launched a controversial new immigration initiative that grants wealthy foreigners an expedited path to U.S. permanent residency in exchange for a $1 million contribution, a striking shift that pairs the administration’s hard-line immigration stance with an exclusive pay-to-accelerate option for the global elite.
Trump formally unveiled the programme, branded the “Trump Gold Card,” during a White House roundtable on Wednesday. The administration simultaneously launched the official application portal, trumpcard.gov marking the first time federal authorities have released detailed requirements, fees, and processing timelines.
According to published guidelines, applicants must first pay a $15,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) processing fee and pass an initial background check before becoming eligible to submit the required $1 million contribution. Employers may also sponsor applicants by paying $2 million under the same scheme.
Successful applicants will receive U.S. lawful permanent residency under the EB-1 or EB-2 categories, visas traditionally reserved for individuals with “extraordinary” or “exceptional” abilities. The government says processing could take only “weeks,” although applicants will still undergo an in-person interview and may incur additional State Department fees.
“The applicant will need to attend a visa interview and submit any additional documents in a timely manner,” the official guidelines state.
Platinum Tier Already in the Works
Even before the Gold Card begins full implementation, the administration is previewing a more exclusive option: the “Trump Platinum Card.”
The proposed package still without a launch date would allow wealthy foreign nationals to spend up to 270 days per year in the U.S. without paying taxes on non-U.S. income. The entry price: a $15,000 DHS fee and a $5 million contribution. The website currently allows interested applicants to join a waitlist.
A Major Policy Shift Amid Immigration Crackdown
The unveiling comes as Trump pushes some of the toughest immigration restrictions of his presidency. In recent weeks, the administration has halted or tightened nearly every legal and illegal entry channel, citing security concerns following the fatal shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
Trump first floated the Gold Card idea in February, initially pitching a $5 million visa-for-citizenship offer. A September executive order later directed the creation of the programme, ultimately setting the entry price at $1 million.
Ties to EB-5 Investor Visa But With Massive Financial Upside
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the new initiative will modify the existing EB-5 investor visa programme, which already offers green cards to foreigners who invest in U.S. job-creating ventures.
Lutnick claims the revamped structure could generate up to $1 trillion in federal revenue and attract “extraordinary people at the very top.”
Immigration analysts, however, warn that substantial changes to EB-5 generally require congressional approval, making the programme’s legal footing uncertain.
Despite the questions, Trump has hinted that millions of Gold Cards could eventually be sold, suggesting a sweeping transformation of America’s immigration system, one where wealth increasingly determines access, even as other pathways narrow.
Recall that Trump had proposed a $5 million Gold Card visa tied to Green Card privileges and a citizenship pathway, with U.S. officials pitching it as a strategy to spur investment, tax revenues, and job creation.