The Trump Gold Card program is now operational after months of development.
High-net-worth individuals seeking U.S. permanent residence through the $1 million gift pathway now face a critical preparation window. The program’s launch means applicants should begin assembling comprehensive financial documentation immediately, as source of funds verification will determine which petitions move ahead for further adjudication.
This update covers confirmed requirements, the application timeline, and specific actions prospective applicants should take.
The Trump Gold Card Program is now Operational.
Form I-140G Clears Regulatory Review
The draft Form I-140G, titled “Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program,” cleared the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review and the official Form I-140G has since been released. The form establishes the petition structure for both individual and corporate applicants seeking permanent residence through the gift pathway.
Confirmed Gift Requirements and Fee Structure
The Trump Gold Card program’s financial requirements are now locked in.
Gift Amounts by Petition Type
Individual Petitioners: $1,000,000 per person requesting a Gold Card. That means $1,000,000 for the principal applicant, and an additional $1,000,000 for any spouse or children under 21 included in the same petition.
Corporate Petitioners: $2,000,000 for the principal beneficiary requesting a Gold Card, and an additional $1,000,000 for any spouse or children under 21 included in the same petition.
These amounts go directly to the U.S. Department of Commerce as unrestricted, non-refundable gifts. They do not function as investments and provide no economic return beyond immigration benefits.
Filing Fees
There is a required $15,000 Department of Homeland Security processing fee that must be paid for each person, regardless of petition outcome. As an example, a family of four seeking Gold Cards for each family member would pay:
- $4,000,000 in Department of Commerce gifts (4 x $1,000,000)
- $60,000 in filing fees (4 × $15,000)
- Total: $4,060,000
For detailed breakdowns of all program tiers including the proposed Platinum Card option, see our complete Trump Gold Card program guide. Note that on approval some additional visa-related fees will also apply.
Source of Funds: The Critical Preparation Step
The U.S. government will vet every dollar contributed towards the Trump Gold Card before proceeding to the final stages of the adjudication process. This makes source of funds documentation the single most important preparation task for prospective applicants.
Required Financial Documentation
The program mandates extensive disclosure to prove lawful fund acquisition:
Individual Petitioners Must Provide:
- Five years of bank statements
- Seven years of personal tax returns
- Documentation of all income sources (employment, business, investments)
- Real estate records (if funds derived from property sales)
- Business sale documentation (if applicable)
- Inheritance records with probate paperwork (if applicable)
Corporate Petitioners Must Provide:
- Three years of corporate tax returns
- Three years of audited financial statements and annual reports
- Gross annual income documentation
- Net worth verification
- Full ownership structure disclosure
Employment and Background Disclosures
All petitioners must document:
- Complete 20-year employment history (where applicable)
- Post-high school or secondary school education (where applicable)
- All government or military positions ever held
- Current net worth with asset/liability breakdown
- Criminal history attestation
- Foreign government relationship disclosures
Each family member included in the petition must submit personal background information, educational records, and identity documentation.
EB-1 vs EB-2 NIW: Making Your Classification Choice
The Trump Gold Card requires petitioners to select either EB-1 Extraordinary Ability or EB-2 National Interest Waiver classification when filing the Form I-140G.
Visa Availability Determines Timeline
Current visa bulletin data shows dramatic differences, particularly for some countries:
Indian nationals: EB-1 dates are nearly 9 years ahead of EB-2.
Chinese Nationals: EB-1 dates are over a year and a half ahead of EB-2.
Most other nationalities: EB-1 dates have a near 2-year advantage over EB-2.
These gaps reflect per-country quotas and demand patterns. Your country of birth may make one category significantly faster than the other.
Standard Qualification Requirements
While USCIS has not published modified standards for Trump Gold Card applicants, traditional requirements include:
EB-1 Extraordinary Ability:
- Sustained national or international acclaim in business, science, arts, education, or athletics
- Major internationally recognized award OR meeting three of ten evidentiary criteria
- Continued work in the field of expertise within the United States
EB-2 National Interest Waiver:
- Advanced degree (master’s or higher) OR exceptional ability
- Work with substantial merit and national importance
- Well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor
- U.S. benefits from waiving labor certification
The Executive Order states that Trump Gold Card gifts shall be treated as evidence of eligibility for these categories, but the precise adjudication standards remain unclear until further guidance is published.
Strategic Assessment Required
The choice between EB-1 and EB-2 NIW affects both approval prospects and timeline. Applicants should evaluate:
- Which category their professional background supports more strongly
- Current visa availability for their country of birth
- Strength of evidence they can assemble for each classification
Immigration counsel experienced in both categories can assess which path offers better prospects for your specific circumstances. Learn more about EB-1A requirements and EB-2 NIW qualifications.
How the Trump Gold Card Application Process Will Work
Based on published regulatory information, the Trump Gold Card application follows a multi-stage process.
Stage 1: Apply on-line and pay the $15,000 Filing Fee
As the first step, applicants are required to provide some personal information and identify the number of family members that will be included in the petition. The $15,000 per person filing fee must be paid at commencement of the process.
Stage 2: Petition, Vetting, and Adjudication
Next, the Form I-140G petition and supporting documents are required to be filed with USCIS. Thereafter, the vetting process will commence. Vetting will include:
- Lawful fund origins
- Financial transparency compliance
- Alignment with national interests
The Form I-140G petition and supporting documents will also be adjudicated on, which will include EB-1 or EB-2 NIW eligibility review.
This represents the primary bottleneck where insufficient documentation causes delays or denials.
Stage 3: Gift Transfer
After background approval, petitioners transfer the required gift amount.
Stage 4: Consular Processing/Adjustment of Status
Once the petition is approved and there is an immigrant visa number available in the requested employment-based classification, applicants must complete consular processing abroad (using a Form DS-260G) with the U.S. Department of State at an embassy or consulate to get an immigrant visa, or via adjustment of status, if already in the United States. This stage includes:
- Security background checks
- Final decision on visa issuance
Stage 5: Visa Issuance
Approved petitioners and beneficiaries will be granted immigrant visas and they will obtain permanent residence in the United States. There is also a pathway to U.S. citizenship.
For the complete application timeline and process details, see our comprehensive Trump Gold Card guide.
Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid
Starting Financial Documentation Too Late
The most common error is underestimating how long comprehensive source of funds documentation takes to compile. Applicants often discover they need additional records from closed accounts, foreign banks, or business partners who require weeks to respond.
Action now: Contact your accountant, financial advisor, and any relevant institutions to begin gathering records immediately.
Incomplete Employment History
The 20-year employment history requirement catches many applicants off guard, particularly those who have worked in multiple countries or held numerous positions.
Action now: Create a detailed timeline of all employment since 2005, including employer contact information, position titles, dates, and salary ranges.
Inadequate Disclosure of Government Ties
Any advisory role, board position, or consulting relationship with foreign governments must be disclosed, even if informal or unpaid.
Action now: Document all government-related positions, including dates, responsibilities, and current status.
Cryptocurrency Documentation Gaps
The program accepts cryptocurrency-based gifts only with complete blockchain traceability and regulated exchange documentation. Anonymous or lightly supervised transfers will not satisfy requirements.
Action now: If any portion of your gift will come from cryptocurrency holdings, begin compiling complete acquisition and conversion documentation with exchange records.
Wrong EB Category Selection
Choosing EB-1 with insufficient evidence or selecting EB-2 without considering visa availability can add years to your timeline or result in denial.
Action now: Consult with immigration counsel to assess which category your background supports and which offers better processing prospects given your country of birth.
Trump Gold Card vs EB-5: Key Distinctions
Prospective applicants frequently compare the Trump Gold Card to the established EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.
Critical Differences
Investment Structure:
- EB-5: $800,000-$1,050,000 investment with potential capital return
- Trump Gold Card: $1,000,000-$2,000,000+ non-refundable gift
Job Creation:
- EB-5: Must create 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers
- Trump Gold Card: No job creation requirement
Processing Authority:
- EB-5: USCIS handles entire process
- Trump Gold Card: Department of Commerce and USCIS
Program Maturity:
- EB-5: Established program with decades of precedent
- Trump Gold Card: New program with untested procedures
The Trump Gold and Platinum Card program overview provides additional comparison details.
What the Platinum Card Proposal Means
Official Trump Gold Card materials reference a separate “Trump Platinum Card” requiring a $5 million contribution. This option would reportedly allow up to 270 days per year in the United States without triggering U.S. taxation on foreign income.
Current status: The Platinum Card has not progressed through regulatory review and has no confirmed launch timeline. Unlike the Trump Gold Card, no forms have been submitted to OMB and no implementation guidance exists.
Applicants interested in the Platinum Card should consider the Trump Gold Card for now given that it is already in operation.
Immediate Action Steps for Applicants
Week 1-2:
- Contact financial advisors and accountants to discuss documentation requirements
- Begin compiling bank statements for the past five years
- Retrieve tax returns for the past seven years
- Create detailed employment history timeline
Week 3-4:
- Document all income sources with supporting records
- Gather real estate transaction documentation (if applicable)
- Compile business sale records (if applicable)
- Request inheritance documentation with probate records (if applicable)
Week 5-8:
- Consult immigration counsel on EB-1 vs EB-2 NIW classification
- Review visa availability for your country of birth
- Assess evidentiary strength for each category
- Begin assembling professional credentials documentation
Week 9-12:
- Complete background disclosure documentation
- Verify all family member documentation (passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates)
- Prepare net worth statement with asset/liability details
- Finalize source of funds narrative explaining fund accumulation
How Harvey Law Group Prepares Trump Gold Card Petitions
Harvey Law Group, the largest business immigration law firm globally, has 20 offices worldwide and over 30 years of immigration expertise with depth in employment-based permanent residence cases including EB-1A and EB-2 NIW petitions.
Our lawyers assist Trump Gold Card applicants through:
Preparation: Assessment of documentation requirements, timeline planning, and financial record compilation coordination.
EB Category Strategy: Analysis of which classification (EB-1 or EB-2 NIW) your background supports and which offers better visa availability for your country of birth.
Source of Funds Documentation: Coordination with financial advisors to compile comprehensive fund origin documentation that satisfies the U.S. government’s vetting requirements.
Petition Drafting: Preparation of Form I-140G with supporting evidence addressing both immigration classification standards and financial transparency requirements.
Corporate Sponsorship: Guidance for companies sponsoring executives or key personnel, including elevated contribution requirements and corporate disclosure obligations.
Initial Consultation
Trump Gold Card consultations cover:
- Documentation requirements for your specific financial situation
- EB-1 vs EB-2 NIW classification assessment
- Timeline from petition filing through gold card receipt
- Current program status
Our immigration lawyers meet with clients at our offices or by video conference.
Planning to apply for the Trump Gold Card
Contact Harvey Law Group now to begin preparation. Early documentation assembly positions you to file sooner, rather than spending months gathering records while others advance through the queue. Our immigration lawyers provide strategic guidance on classification selection, source of funds documentation, and petition preparation for this new pathway to U.S. permanent residence.
