Trump Unveils Wealth-Based 'Golden Card' Immigration Initiative

On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump officially launched a new immigration visa program dubbed the 'Trump Golden Card' from the White House. This premium immigration pathway was formalized through Executive Order No. 14351, which the President had previously signed on September 19, 2025. The initiative is designed to offer affluent individuals and corporations an expedited route to permanent resident status in exchange for a substantial financial contribution to the U.S. Treasury. This mechanism establishes a wealth-based immigration category, raising questions regarding the scope of executive authority, particularly since it was enacted without explicit approval from Congress.

Howard Lutnick, the Secretary of Commerce confirmed by the Senate on February 18, 2025, announced that the implementation deadline set forth in the executive order is December 18, 2025. Lutnick, who previously served as the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, is overseeing the program’s rollout. The individual 'Golden Card' requires a non-refundable contribution of $1 million, alongside a $15,000 processing fee remitted to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for thorough applicant vetting.

For corporate applicants, the structure is different: the program mandates a contribution of $2 million for every employee included, plus the corresponding administrative processing fee. President Trump has framed this new visa as a crucial tool for retaining 'invaluable talent' within the United States, anticipating that it will funnel 'many billions of dollars' directly into the Treasury.

According to Secretary Lutnick, approximately 10,000 individuals have already signed up during the preliminary registration period. Successful applicants will be folded into the existing EB-1 or EB-2 visa categories, where their significant financial commitment will serve as proof of 'national benefit.' However, critics argue that because the program leverages existing legislative quotas, the 'accelerated path' pertains only to qualification status, not the ultimate wait time for an available visa number, as applicants will still be competing for a limited pool of slots.

The 'Golden Card' initiative is being promoted as either a replacement for or a supplement to the current EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The EB-5 program currently requires investments ranging from $800,000 to $1.05 million in job-creating enterprises, with the possibility of investment return. Furthermore, a higher-tier option, the 'Platinum Card,' has been simultaneously announced, priced at $5 million. Reports suggest this Platinum tier might offer tax advantages on income earned outside the U.S. for up to 270 days annually.

It is noteworthy that the September 2025 Executive Order did not explicitly mention the 'Platinum Card,' which introduces legal ambiguities concerning the taxation of foreign-earned income for its future holders should they pursue citizenship. The official program website, trumpcard.gov, began accepting online applications during the launch week.

The application workflow requires applicants to establish a myUSCIS.gov account after submitting initial data and fees. This is followed by rigorous scrutiny from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including verification of the lawful source of funds. While the petition processing is expedited, applicants must still satisfy all legal and procedural prerequisites applicable to other employment-based green card seekers, including country-of-origin caps. Ultimately, the program aims to bolster the U.S. economy by attracting significant capital, though its implementation within the existing immigration framework presents both practical hurdles and legal complexities.