On December 10, 2025, the Trump Administration rolled out President Trump’s Gold Card program, and the official website is now live and accepting applications. Under the published framework, applicants are required to pay a $15,000 nonrefundable fee for themselves to “unlock life in America”. Individuals who wish to include dependents must pay an additional $15,000 for each qualifying dependent. Upon receipt and processing of this payment, applicants are instructed to submit Form I-140G to USCIS in order to initiate the government’s vetting and background check process. Following the completion of background checks, applicants who are approved must then pay a further contribution of $1 million for individual applicants, or $2 million for those sponsored by a corporate entity.
According to guidance published by the administration, successful applicants would obtain legal status described as equivalent to that of an EB-1 or EB-2 visa holder. It remains unclear whether this program is intended to operate alongside existing employment based immigrant visa categories, or whether it is being positioned as a substitute for established classifications such as the EB-1 and EB-2, which have long been used by individuals of extraordinary ability and those with advanced degrees or exceptional ability in business, science, the arts, and athletics. As additional guidance is released, we will continue to update our community.
At this time, we would not recommend filing under the Gold Card program due to significant legal and practical uncertainties. There are questions about whether the executive branch has the statutory authority to create a new immigrant classification or pathway that effectively bypasses the detailed eligibility criteria and numerical limitations established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act. There is also uncertainty as to how USCIS can lawfully adjudicate Form I-140G when that form and the underlying classification do not clearly fit within existing regulatory frameworks governing employment based immigrant visas. Until there is formal regulatory guidance, clear statutory authorization, and confirmation that approvals issued under this program would be legally valid and durable, participation carries material risk. For these reasons, and given the possibility of future legal challenges or policy reversals, we cannot currently advise clients to rely on the Gold Card as a viable or secure pathway to permanent residence.