!! BREAKING NEWS !! GOLD CARD VISA PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER

On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order launching the “Gold Card,” a new visa pathway positioned within the administration’s investment-based immigration reforms. First previewed in February 2025, the program is now formally established through executive action. It will be administered by the Department of Commerce in coordination with the Departments of State and Homeland Security.

Program Structure

Under the order, an individual who makes an unrestricted gift of $1 million (or $2 million if contributed through a corporation) to the Department of Commerce may qualify for an immigrant visa through expedited processing. Federal agencies are directed to treat such contributions as evidence of “exceptional business ability and national benefit” under existing employment-based immigrant visa categories. All funds will be deposited into a dedicated Commerce Department account and used to promote American commerce and industry.

Additional Features

The Executive Order authorizes corporations to transfer a Gold Card sponsorship to another individual, provided the new candidate meets the same vetting standards and applicable fees are paid.

The administration’s Gold Card website has also described two tiers of participation:

• Gold ($1M/$2M): providing U.S. residency.

• Platinum ($5M): providing residency plus the ability to spend up to 270 days in the United States without being subject to U.S. tax on non-U.S. income.

However, the “Platinum” tier was not included in the Executive Order itself, and its adoption remains uncertain.