Trump Gold Card Explained: Cost, Requirements & How to Apply (2026)

What Is the Trump Gold Card?#

The Trump Gold Card is a US immigration program created by Executive Order 14351, signed on September 19, 2025. It offers a path to permanent residency in exchange for a large payment to the US government. Unlike the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which requires an at risk investment of $800,000 or $1,050,000 in a job creating business, the Gold Card requires a $1,000,000 "gift" to the US government for an individual applicant, or $2,000,000 when a company sponsors the applicant. The gift is not returned.

The Gold Card does not create a new visa category. Approved applicants are classified in the existing EB-1 or EB-2 employment based categories. USCIS released the petition form, Form I-140G, in November 2025 and began accepting applications in December 2025. The program is being challenged in federal court. This article explains how the program works, what it costs, and how it compares with EB-5.

Source: Executive Order 14351 (September 19, 2025); USCIS Form I-140G.

Origins and program status#

The Gold Card was first announced in February 2025. Early descriptions spoke of a $5,000,000 card. The program that was actually created in September 2025 set the individual contribution at $1,000,000. A separate "Platinum Card" at $5,000,000 has been described by the administration but had not been put into effect as of the latest information available.

Key milestones:

• September 19, 2025: Executive Order 14351 signed
• November 2025: USCIS released Form I-140G, Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program
• December 2025: Applications opened
• February 2026: A lawsuit challenging the program under the Administrative Procedure Act was filed in federal court in Washington, DC; it was still pending at the latest reports
• Spring 2026: Reported figures showed a few hundred applications and very few approvals

The EB-5 program is anchored in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA Section 203(b)(5)) and has more than three decades of regulatory and case law history. The Gold Card rests on an executive order that uses existing EB-1 and EB-2 visa numbers. The lawsuit argues that this bypasses the criteria Congress set for those categories. Investors should treat the Gold Card's long term legal footing as uncertain until the courts rule.

Source: Executive Order 14351; USCIS; court filings as reported in 2026.

Gold Card requirements#

Financial requirement#

The Gold Card requires a $1,000,000 gift to the US government for an individual, or $2,000,000 when a corporation or similar entity files for the applicant. This is structurally different from EB-5: EB-5 requires an investment in a business, with the possibility that the capital is returned after the investment term. The Gold Card contribution is not returned.

Applicants also pay a nonrefundable $15,000 processing fee before filing Form I-140G. Early guidance indicated that spouses and children who want their own Gold Card need their own contribution. Confirm the current terms with an attorney before you commit.

Job creation requirement#

The Gold Card has no job creation requirement. EB-5 requires each investor's investment to create at least 10 full-time US jobs.

Eligibility and vetting#

Applicants go through background and security checks and must document the lawful source of the contributed funds. After USCIS approves Form I-140G, the applicant still needs an available EB-1 or EB-2 visa number and must complete immigrant visa processing, usually at a US consulate abroad, including a medical exam and admissibility review.

Gold Card cost: total investment required#

The $1,000,000 headline figure is not the full cost. Total cost includes the processing fee, legal fees and visa processing costs.

The distinction that matters most: EB-5 capital is at risk but may be returned if the project succeeds. The Gold Card contribution is a payment to the government and is not returned. EB-5 investment minimums will be adjusted for inflation on January 1, 2027; the new amounts have not been published yet.

Source: USCIS fee schedule; EB-5 fee final rule (91 FR 61940); Executive Order 14351.

How to apply for Gold Card#

The application process, as published by USCIS:

Step 1: Pay the processing fee. The $15,000 nonrefundable processing fee is paid before the petition is filed.

Step 2: File Form I-140G. The petition is filed with USCIS, along with source of funds documentation and background information.

Step 3: USCIS review. USCIS reviews the petition and conducts background and security checks.

Step 4: Visa processing. After approval, the applicant completes immigrant visa processing when an EB-1 or EB-2 visa number is available.

USCIS has not published processing times for Form I-140G. By comparison, USCIS publishes two I-526E processing-time metrics: the median for cases completed in FY2026 Q3 was 13.6 months, and the Check Case Processing Times tool (published June 23, 2026) shows 80% of I-526E cases completing within 34.5 to 36.5 months.

Gold Card vs EB-5: key differences#

EB-5 offers a lower entry point and the chance of getting the capital back, with the trade-off of job creation requirements and longer processing. The Gold Card is simpler on paper but costs more, the money is not returned, and its legal future is uncertain.

Source: INA Section 203(b)(5); USCIS Policy Manual; Executive Order 14351.

Gold Card processing time#

USCIS has not published processing times for Form I-140G, and the number of approvals reported through spring 2026 was very small.

The EB-5 program has published processing benchmarks. In FY2026 Q3, the median processing time for completed I-526E cases was 13.6 months, and USCIS's Check Case Processing Times tool (published June 23, 2026) shows 80% of I-526E cases completing within 34.5 to 36.5 months. Investors in the United States who file I-485 concurrently can apply for work authorization (EAD) and travel permission (Advance Parole) while the case is pending.

The law directs USCIS to prioritize rural EB-5 petitions, and in the November 2026 Visa Bulletin all EB-5 set-aside categories are Current for every country.

Who should consider the Gold Card?#

This is a framework for evaluation, not a recommendation:

Investors with substantial liquid capital who do not need the money returned and value a simpler filing without business compliance requirements.

Investors seeking to avoid job creation risk who prefer a fixed payment over an EB-5 project's business risk.

Investors from China and India should note that the Gold Card uses EB-1 and EB-2 visa numbers, which are also backlogged for those countries. The Gold Card does not avoid per-country limits.

However, investors should note:

1. EB-5 has more than 35 years of regulatory history and published USCIS statistics
2. EB-5 TEA requires $200,000 less capital than the Gold Card, and the capital may be returned
3. The Gold Card contribution is not returned
4. The Gold Card is being challenged in court, and a ruling against it could affect pending and future applicants
5. The Gold Card uses EB-1 and EB-2 visa numbers, not a separate allocation
6. EB-5 rural, high unemployment and infrastructure set-asides are Current for all countries in November 2026

What the data shows#

EB-5 approvals and denials: In FY2026 Q3, USCIS approved 687 Form I-526E petitions and denied 217, about 76% of completed cases. At the end of June 2026, 11,192 I-526E petitions were pending.

Source: USCIS EB-5 quarterly data.

Processing time: USCIS publishes two I-526E processing-time metrics: a median of 13.6 months for cases completed in FY2026 Q3, and a Check Case Processing Times tool 80% range of 34.5 to 36.5 months (published June 23, 2026). USCIS publishes no separate rural range, though the law directs USCIS to prioritize rural petitions. China and India nationals in the unreserved category also wait for visa availability after I-526E approval.

Visa Bulletin: In the November 2026 Visa Bulletin, the EB-5 unreserved Final Action Date is December 1, 2016 for China and December 1, 2023 for India; all other countries are Current. The set-aside categories (rural, high unemployment area, infrastructure) are Current for all countries.

Source: U.S. Department of State, Visa Bulletin, November 2026.

The grandfathering date of September 30, 2026 has passed. Regional center petitions filed on or before it are protected if the Regional Center Program lapses. The program is authorized through September 30, 2027. EB-5 investment minimums adjust separately on January 1, 2027.

Further EB-5 data#

Explore EB5Status resources for detailed program information:

• EB-5 Processing Times: USCIS processing benchmarks by form type
• Visa Bulletin Analysis: Monthly visa availability
• Cost Calculator: Total cost tool comparing EB-5 pathways
• EB-5 Statistics: Quarterly filing volume and approval data
• Methodology: Documentation of data sources

Related Gold Card Articles:

• Gold Card USA: Complete Investor Guide
• Gold Card vs EB-5: Complete Comparison

---

Legal Disclaimer: EB5Status is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This article is informational only and does not constitute legal guidance on immigration eligibility, strategy, or filing decisions. The Gold Card program details described in this article are subject to change as the program and the litigation over it develop. Before pursuing any visa petition, consult a qualified immigration attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. Immigration law is complex, individual circumstances vary significantly, and professional legal counsel is essential.