Draft USCIS Form Clears Federal Review for Trump’s $1M ‘Gold Card’ Residency Program

The U.S. government is rapidly advancing the implementation of President Trump’s “Gold Card” program, a new initiative offering a path to U.S. permanent residence for foreign nationals who make significant financial donations to the U.S. Treasury. This accelerated effort is aimed at meeting a strict deadline of December 18 for the program to be fully operational, as mandated by the executive order that officially launched the program in September.

A key USCIS form, the draft Form I-140G, which will be used to petition for permanent residence under the program, has already been cleared by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Under the Gold Card program’s structure, interested applicants must make a substantial donation that renders the foreign national eligible for a green card under the existing EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability) or EB-2 (National Interest Waiver) employment-based categories.

Specifically, an individual petitioner must donate $1 million, while a corporate sponsor petitioning for a foreign beneficiary is required to donate $2 million. The USCIS Form I-140G petition will be used to assess the beneficiary’s eligibility for the immigrant visa classification and, critically, to vet the source of the donated funds to ensure their lawfulness.

In addition to the USCIS form, the State Department is also seeking emergency approval for a related immigrant visa application, the DS-260G. This form would be used by Gold Card beneficiaries with approved I-140G petitions to complete consular processing for their green card application at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

Draft instructions for the proposed I-140G outline a multi-step process for applicants: it begins with an application filed with the Department of Commerce (details for which are still pending), followed by the payment of a nonrefundable $15,000 fee per applicant, and then the filing of the I-140G petition with USCIS.

While these draft immigration forms represent a major step toward launching the program, the entire process has not yet been finalized, particularly concerning the initial Department of Commerce application.

Further details on the complete Gold Card process are anticipated in the coming weeks as the implementing government agencies work to meet the December deadline. The administration’s website alludes to a separate “Platinum Card” program, which would reportedly require a $5 million payment and offer up to 270 days of annual residency without U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income; however, no official details have been provided on this related, higher-tier program.

The administration’s official website provides specific details on how the new program is structured, emphasizing the financial requirements and vetting process.

The Trump Gold Card is described as “a visa based upon an individual’s ability to provide a substantial benefit to the United States.” To apply, an applicant must pay a nonrefundable processing fee. “If approved, an individual must make a gift of $1 million, which has been determined to provide sufficient evidence that the individual will substantially benefit the United States.” The government has announced this nonrefundable processing fee to be $15,000 per applicant.

For corporate sponsors, the Trump Corporate Gold Card requires “A $2 million per employee gift upon completion of the employee’s vetting is evidence that the employee will substantially benefit the United States.” A unique advantage for corporate sponsors is the flexibility to “cease sponsoring one employee and use the gift contribution tied to the prior application as a basis for sponsoring a new employee without a new $2 million gift.”

Applicants must meet general immigration standards, as they “must be eligible for lawful permanent resident status, admissible to the United States, and a visa must be available.” Successful applicants will receive lawful permanent resident status as an EB-1 or EB-2 visa holder, as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. Regarding tax implications, the website states: “Applicants will be treated similarly to other permanent residents and citizens.” However, the program notes that the status is a visa and can be revoked if there are “national security and other risks.”

The administration’s website also details a Trump Platinum Card option, although it was not included in the original executive order. This premium option “will allow individual applicants to reside in the United States for up to 270 days per year without being subject to tax on non-U.S. income.” The payment for this card is reportedly $5 million plus a processing fee.