USCIS has formally launched the Gold Card visa program, activating its petition process and implementing the framework established by a Presidential Executive Order issued in September 2025. The program allows qualifying applicants to obtain permanent residency through a substantial financial contribution to the U.S. government and is now active nationwide.
Executive Order Issued in September Laid the Legal Foundation
The legal authority for the Gold Card program comes from the Executive Order titled The Gold Card, published on September 24, 2025, and available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/24/2025-18602/the-gold-card. The order directs the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State to treat a qualifying financial gift as valid evidentiary support under existing employment-based immigrant visa categories.
A central operative clause of the Executive Order states:
“In adjudicating visa applications, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, consistent with applicable law, treat the gift specified in subsection (a) of this section as evidence of eligibility under 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(1)(A), of exceptional business ability and national benefit under 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2)(A), and of eligibility for a national-interest waiver under 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2)(B).”
This language instructs adjudicators that the financial contribution is to be considered evidence of:
• eligibility for extraordinary ability classification under the EB-1A statute
• exceptional business ability and national benefit under the EB-2 statute
• eligibility for a national interest waiver under the EB-2 NIW provision
The EO does not amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. Instead, it mandates how agencies must apply existing statutory discretion when evaluating evidence.
USCIS Operational Launch
Following several months of internal planning, USCIS has initiated the operational phase of the program. The agency has published Form I-140G, now available at https://www.uscis.gov/i-140g, which serves as the required petition for individuals seeking classification under the Gold Card framework.
The official program portal, https://trumpcard.gov, is also live and accepting preregistration submissions. Applicants begin the process online before proceeding to background checks and eligibility review.
Program Requirements and Structure
Under the program:
• Individual applicants must pay a $15,000 DHS processing fee and make a non-refundable $1 million contribution to the U.S. government.
• Corporate sponsors may seek a Corporate Gold Card for foreign employees at a rate of $2 million per employee.
• A Platinum Card tier requiring a $5 million contribution is referenced in the EO, though operational guidance on that tier has not yet been released.
The administration states that successful applicants may receive permanent residency on an expedited timeline under EB-1 or EB-2 categories.
How the EO Reinterprets Existing Immigration Categories
The September Executive Order relies on flexibility already present in the INA’s evidentiary standards. The extraordinary ability and national interest waiver classifications permit a wide variety of documentation to demonstrate eligibility. By directing adjudicators to recognize the financial contribution as evidence under 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(1)(A), 1153(b)(2)(A), and 1153(b)(2)(B), the EO effectively broadens what agencies may consider sufficient to meet statutory thresholds.
Officials view the contribution as indicative of exceptional business ability, the capacity to mobilize substantial financial resources, and an intent to advance the national interest. These characteristics, according to the EO, fall within the scope of existing statutory criteria.
Program Status and Outlook
The Gold Card initiative is now live, with USCIS processing petitions under the Executive Order’s directives. Because the program is grounded in executive authority rather than legislation, future administrations may revise or discontinue it. For now, adjudications are proceeding under the September order.
Further operational details are expected as DHS and USCIS update policy materials and release additional implementation guidance.
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