USA: The “Gold Card” – Everything you need to know about the new Permanent Residence visa

The permanent residence programme known as the “Gold Card” in the United States is one of the most controversial immigration reforms promoted by the administration of President Donald Trump. Presented as a new type of US visa, this scheme offers an accelerated pathway to a Green Card and potentially to US citizenship for high-net-worth individuals willing to make substantial investments in the US economy.

This programme forms part of a broader strategy aimed at modernising and tightening US immigration, by replacing or reshaping existing systems such as the well-known EB-5 programme. Below is a detailed analysis of the conditions, costs and procedures involved in obtaining this exclusive residence permit.

What is the Trump “Gold Card”?

The Trump “Gold Card” is a US permanent residence visa programme designed to attract ultra-high-income investors and individuals with significant financial resources. It grants its holder lawful permanent resident status, equivalent to a Green Card, with the stated objective of subsequently opening a pathway to US citizenship.

Unlike traditional immigration routes (family-based, employment-based or asylum), this card is based on a direct financial contribution to the US government: a minimum of USD 1 million for individuals, or USD 2 million if a company sponsors a foreign worker.

This system draws inspiration from so-called “golden visas” found in Europe or Canada, but on a far larger scale and at a much higher cost, reflecting a highly targeted focus on the ultra-wealthy.

Step-by-step guide: How to obtain the Gold Card

Obtaining this permanent residence visa follows a strict process managed by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), consisting of six key steps:

1. Submitting the Gold Card application online

The first step is to submit an application via the official website, selecting the type of Gold Card (individual or corporate) and providing basic personal information, such as:

• first and last name,
• date of birth,
• telephone number,
• gender,
• email address,
• place of birth,
• residential address,
• number of dependants.

2.  Payment of the USD 15,000 processing fee per person

Once the application has been submitted, you will be redirected to pay.gov, where you must pay a processing fee of USD 15,000 per person (the main applicant and each dependant).

⚠️ Warning:

These fees are non-refundable, even if the application is refused..

 3. Submission of Form I-140G (online)

After payment, the administration will direct the applicant (or sponsor) to USCIS to create an online account and submit Form I-140G – Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Programme.

This form is a cornerstone of the process, as it allows USCIS to verify that:

• the funds contributed originate from a lawful source;
• the applicant can legally be classified under one of the EB visa categories, namely EB-1 (extraordinary ability) or EB-2 NIW (exceptional ability / national interest).

⚠️ Important: Form I-140G must be submitted electronically and cannot be filed in paper format.

4. Payment of the USD 1 million or USD 2 million contribution

If Form I-140G passes the initial USCIS review, you will be invited to make the required contribution to the US Treasury:

• USD 1,000,000 if you are an individual applying for a Gold Card;
• USD 2,000,000 if a company sponsors a candidate under the Corporate Gold Card.
  

This contribution must be transferred via ACH or SWIFT wire transfer, in accordance with government instructions.

Once the contribution has been received, USCIS may approve Form I-140G.

5. Consular processing – Form DS-260G

Once the I-140G has been approved and a visa number becomes available in the selected category (EB-1 or EB-2, depending on the case), the next step is to contact the US embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country of origin.

You must then submit Form DS-260G (the equivalent of the immigrant Form DS-260), which constitutes the immigrant visa application.

This stage generally also involves:

• submitting detailed personal documents (civil status records, certificates, proof of eligibility);
• attending an in-person interview (by appointment).

 6. Entry into the United States as a Permanent Resident

If Form DS-260G is approved during consular processing, you will be issued an immigrant visa.

With this visa, you may enter the United States as a lawful permanent resident — equivalent to holding a Green Card. Once in the US, your permanent resident card (Green Card) is generally sent by post.

Some applicants may later, after several years of residence, become eligible for US citizenship through naturalisation.

Estimated costs and processing times of the Gold Card Programme

The official website states that, once the application and fees have been registered, processing of the initial stages “should take a few weeks”.

However, the final stage (consular processing with Form DS-260G) may take several months, depending on the consulate and the availability of appointments in the applicant’s country of origin.

The Gold Card involves several costs and timelines:

• Minimum contribution: approximately USD 1,000,000 for an individual (per person — i.e. USD 4,000,000 for a family of four), or approximately USD 2,000,000 for a company sponsoring a foreign worker;
• Processing fees: approximately USD 15,000 per person;
• Annual management fees: employers sponsoring foreign workers are reportedly required to pay annual management fees of around 1%, based on the first information published by the authorities.

Legal risk analysis

The programme has attracted significant criticism, which could ultimately call this type of visa into question:

• Legal uncertainty: Without explicit authorisation from Congress, some experts believe the programme could be challenged in court, potentially placing approvals or contributions at risk.
• Inequality concerns: While other immigration pathways are based on professional or family needs, the Gold Card relies primarily on financial capacity, raising questions of fairness and ethics.

Is the Gold Card an opportunity or a legal headache?

The Trump Gold Card represents a new frontier in US immigration, combining permanent residence, Green Card status, investment and citizenship into a single, unprecedented framework. It could open the door for many international investors seeking to settle in the United States, while generating substantial revenue for the federal government.

However, given the legal uncertainties, high costs and ongoing debates around the fairness of this type of visa, it remains difficult to predict how the programme will be implemented on a large scale in the coming years.

For potential applicants, caution is strongly advised: consulting US immigration experts remains essential before committing significant financial sums or embarking on a process towards permanent residence in the United States.

Article by Jessica Hervier, Outbound Immigration manager at France Immigration