President Donald Trump has unveiled a controversial new immigration pathway for the wealthy, signing an Executive Order on September 19, 2025, that establishes a “Gold Card” visa program requiring foreign nationals to make substantial financial “gifts” to the United States in exchange for expedited residency.
The program, which requires a $1 million contribution from individuals or $2 million if paid by a corporation on behalf of an applicant, marks a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy toward a more transactional approach that explicitly prioritizes wealthy immigrants.
Pay-to-Stay Immigration
“Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to create the Gold Card visa program, facilitating expedited immigration for aliens who make significant financial gifts to the United States,” the White House announced in a statement accompanying the order.
The initiative represents an evolution of the existing EB-5 investor visa program but with a more direct financial component. Rather than requiring investment in American businesses, the Gold Card program channels funds directly to the U.S. Treasury, where they will be earmarked “to promote commerce and American industry.”
Is this simply a visa for the wealthy? The administration doesn’t shy away from that characterization. According to the Executive Order, the program “prioritizes entry for high-value contributors to American society, including successful entrepreneurs, investors, and businessmen.”
Platinum Upgrade Available
For those with even deeper pockets, the administration has created a premium tier. The Trump Platinum Card, which costs $5 million after Department of Homeland Security vetting, offers an unusual tax benefit: the ability to spend up to 270 days annually in the United States without being subject to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income.
The Secretary of Commerce will coordinate with the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to implement the application processes and fee structures. All funds received will be deposited into the Treasury under a directive to use them for promoting American commerce and industry, though specific allocation details remain unclear.
“By requiring substantial gifts, the program will generate revenue and provide certainty to immigrants who can make significant contributions to the American economy,” the White House stated.
Part of Broader Economic Strategy
The Trump administration has positioned the Gold Card within its broader economic agenda, linking it to recent foreign investment deals the president has secured. “President Trump’s unwavering commitment to revitalizing American industry has spurred trillions of dollars in foreign investment pledges,” the White House noted, specifically highlighting Japan’s $550 billion and the European Union’s $600 billion investment commitments.
Critics, however, are likely to view the program as creating a two-tiered immigration system that explicitly favors the wealthy while other visa pathways remain restricted. The administration makes no apologies for this approach, framing it as a deliberate realignment of immigration priorities.
The Executive Order explicitly positions the Gold Card program as a repudiation of the Biden administration’s immigration policies, which it characterizes as “lax” and “detrimental” to national security and resources.
The program goes live immediately, with the official Trump Card website already accepting preliminary applications. That said, the full implementation timeline and processing details are still being finalized by the relevant agencies.
For wealthy foreigners eyeing American residency, the message is clear: your million-dollar “gift” to the U.S. Treasury might just be your golden ticket.
