New Executive Order Establishes the Gold Card—Pathway to Permanent Residency for Wealthy

On Friday evening, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order establishing a new pathway to permanent residency called “The Gold Card.” This program creates a fast-track green card option for wealthy individuals who make significant “gifts” to the U.S. government through the Department of Commerce.

Highlights

Although clear guidance on the application process has not yet been provided, the executive order outlines several key features:

Unrestricted Gift requirement:

To qualify for an immigrant visa through the Gold Card program, applicants must provide an unrestricted gift (without conditions or limitations) to the Department of Commerce in the following amounts.

$1 million for individuals donating on their own behalf.
$2 million if the gift comes from a corporation or entity on behalf of an individual

Visa benefits: The gift can be used as evidence of eligibility under two employment-based categories:
- Exceptional business ability and national benefit (8 U.S.C. §1153(b)(2)(A) and
- National Interest Waiver (8 U.S.C. §1153(b)(2)(B))
  - Could be expanded to the EB-5 immigrant investor program under 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(5).
Oversight and agencies involved: The Departments of Commerce, State, and Homeland Security are tasked with implementing the program, including setting up application, processing, status adjustment, and screening for public safety / national security.
Use of the funds: The money raised will go into a separate Department of Commerce fund, held with the Treasury, intended to promote commerce and American industry.
Timeline: The order gives the relevant secretaries 90 days to lay out implementation plans (application process, when gifts may start being submitted, fees, etc.)

Potential Legal Challenges

The Gold Card Executive Order, aimed at streamlining the visa process for wealthy donors may face several legal challenges. Plaintiffs could argue that it oversteps executive authority by altering immigration policy without congressional approval, potentially violating the Immigration and Nationality Act. Additionally, if the order is seen as favoring certain nationalities or industries, it may prompt lawsuits alleging discrimination or unequal treatment under the law. Legal battles may also arise from states or interest groups concerned about labor market impacts or federal overreach, leading to judicial review that could delay or block its implementation.

The Bottom Line

Prospective applicants should note that, although the government has launched a general website introducing the Trump Gold Card, an official application process has not yet been established.

Additionally, prospective applicants are still subject to immigrant visa wait times determined by annual numerical limits outlined in the Visa Bulletin.

The “fast track” option will likely enable applicants to pay an additional processing fee to have their petition adjudicated more quickly, similar to the premium processing service available for EB-1A and EB-2 NIW categories. However, no fast-track option currently exists for the I-485 green card process, or consular processing.

We will share additional details once a clear application process is established.

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