Gold Card Replaces EB-1/EB-2: $1M/$2M Path to Green Card

The United States 🇺🇸 has launched a new immigrant visa program called the Gold Card that shifts U.S. permanent residency away from merit-based selection toward a cash-for-status model built on large financial contributions to the federal government. Officials say the program will serve as an EB-1 / EB-2 replacement within weeks, ending the long-standing “extraordinary ability” routes in arts, sciences, business, and education.

The Gold Card offers a fast track to a green card for individuals who donate at least $1 million, or for corporate-sponsored applicants whose employers pay $2 million per sponsored worker. A separate $15,000 vetting fee applies to every application. The Department of Commerce will manage the contributions, while the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security run background checks before lawful permanent resident status is issued.

Program scope, timing, and administration

According to program summaries made public as of September 21, 2025, the Commerce Department will determine application windows and any expansions of the scheme. Approvals remain discretionary because of public safety and national security screening.

• About 80,000 Gold Cards are expected in the initial phase, though final approvals will depend on security vetting outcomes.
• The government positions this as a rapid, predictable route for high-net-worth individuals and corporate leaders seeking a green card, and as a direct revenue stream to fund efforts that “promote commerce and industry.”
• The Department of Commerce will receive and oversee the financial gifts and deposits, and will publish procedures, dates, and future phases.
• Background checks run by the State Department and DHS are a fixed step before permanent residency is granted.

How the Gold Card replaces EB-1 and EB-2

The Gold Card replaces the previous EB-1 and EB-2 categories that rewarded exceptional professional records. Under the new system, the determining factor is the applicant’s financial contribution rather than traditional measures of merit.

Key points:

• Individual applicants: donate $1 million to the U.S. government.
• Employer-sponsored applicants: employers contribute $2 million per employee.
• Corporate eligibility can be transferred between employees after standard checks, allowing firms to reassign the benefit if plans change.
• Payment alone does not guarantee approval — approvals remain discretionary and subject to security and public-safety review.

Tax implications and the proposed Platinum Card

Officials underscore that once approved, Gold Card holders become lawful permanent residents with the same tax duties as other residents. That means worldwide income is taxable under U.S. law.

• The administration is also weighing a separate Platinum Card priced at $5 million that would allow up to 270 days of U.S. residence per year without tax on overseas income.
• The proposed Platinum Card would not lead to citizenship and would require an act of Congress before taking effect.

Important: Until Congress enacts any new tax carveouts, Gold Card recipients should expect the same tax treatment as any other permanent resident.

Application process — step by step

Applicants will follow a staged process:

1. File and pay the nonrefundable vetting fee: $15,000.
2. State Department and DHS conduct background and security checks.
3. If vetting is cleared, make the required contribution:
   • $1 million for an individual.
   • $2 million for a corporate sponsorship.
4. Final review by agencies.
5. Successful applicants receive a Gold Card conferring U.S. permanent residence.

The government has not indicated per-country caps for the initial phase.

Security, discretion, and eligibility checks

Officials emphasize that approval remains discretionary. Authorities will consider:

• Public safety and national security risks.
• Whether the applicant provides a clear benefit to the United States.

In practice, this means payment thresholds alone do not guarantee issuance. The Commerce Department will publish further details on timing, deposit methods, and required documentation. Applicants should be ready to provide standard identity, background, and source-of-funds documentation.

Corporate sponsorship rules and employer considerations

Corporate sponsors have highlighted flexibility in reassigning eligibility among employees after vetting.

• A company that pays $2 million for an executive who later leaves could reassign sponsorship to a replacement once the new person clears government checks.
• General counsel and HR leaders say this feature reduces employer risk for top-level mobility.
• Businesses must prepare internal controls because the $2 million contribution is per person.
• Boards may reevaluate international leadership assignments given the cost, and companies may face reputational questions about paying for residency as a recruitment tool.

Reaction, analysis, and policy roots

VisaVerge.com reports the shift from merit to money is one of the most sweeping changes in modern U.S. immigration policy and could have ripple effects across other employment routes. Analysts warn that suspensions or realignments of additional green card categories may follow, further concentrating the system around financial contributions.

• Corporate HR leaders see a new tool for cross-border hiring at the top end of the market, but at a steep cost per employee.
• Critics say ending EB-1 and EB-2 may reduce opportunities for highly skilled professionals who lack large financial backing.
• Supporters argue the program will bring in capital quickly, fund public goals, and speed decisions for applicants who can pay.
• Some immigration lawyers expect increased pressure on other categories and advise skilled workers to monitor updates.

The program traces policy roots to proposals advanced by President Trump in early 2025. Those proposals emphasized investor-focused, high-priced residency options for global elites. Officials now describe the Gold Card as a successor concept to traditional investor routes with higher thresholds and faster decisions. Unlike the EB-5 investor visa, which relied on job creation through private projects, the Gold Card sends funds directly to the U.S. government for national initiatives in commerce and industry.

Practical planning and advice

Tax and legal advisers urge prospective applicants to plan carefully.

• Gold Card holders become U.S. tax residents and must prepare for reporting rules on foreign accounts and assets, plus the duty to report worldwide income.
• Because the proposed Platinum Card would not offer a citizenship path and would require Congressional action to change tax rules, applicants should not rely on it.
• Attorneys suggest mapping tax residence dates, school calendars, and international travel to avoid issues when changing to U.S. permanent residence.
• Wealth managers recommend reviewing asset structures and foreign reporting rules before entry to avoid costly compliance mistakes.

For families: spouses and qualifying children would expect derivative statuses tied to the principal applicant after approval, similar to other green card categories.

Pending questions and transition risks for EB-1 / EB-2 applicants

Attorney groups are watching how quickly the government moves to wind down EB-1 and EB-2 processing as the Gold Card takes hold. They expect further guidance on how pending EB-1 and EB-2 cases will be handled if those pathways are suspended or folded into the new model.

• Applicants currently in EB-1 or EB-2 queues may face uncertainty as agencies pivot toward the investment-based system.
• Agencies have not provided a detailed calendar for submissions, though officials say applications are being accepted in the launch period.

Key takeaways

• The Gold Card requires a $1 million individual donation or $2 million per corporate-sponsored employee, plus a $15,000 vetting fee.
• Security screening through the State Department and DHS is mandatory, and approval is discretionary.
• Roughly 80,000 approvals are expected in the initial rollout, subject to vetting and agency capacity.
• Holders gain a green card with full rights and duties, including worldwide tax obligations.
• A proposed $5 million Platinum Card with limited U.S. stay and special tax treatment would need Congressional approval and would not lead to citizenship.

Where to find official information and legal help

Applicants and employers can review official government information about permanent residence at the USCIS green card overview, which explains the legal meaning of lawful permanent resident status.

For program-specific updates, officials say the Department of Commerce will post application procedures, timelines, and future expansions on the official portal at trumpcard.gov.

Legal advisory firms that work on investor and employment immigration have started offering consultations; one firm notes it is accepting inquiries at visum-usa.com.

Policy perspective

From a policy standpoint, the program reflects a choice to link immigration more tightly to direct fiscal contributions.

• Proponents present it as a revenue-generating way to attract investors who will spend and invest in the country.
• Opponents worry it may reduce social mobility by closing established merit tracks and concentrating access among the ultra-wealthy.

As the Gold Card rolls out, questions remain about long-term effects on the U.S. talent pipeline, fairness, and the balance between cash contributions and skills. The near-term message from Washington is clear: the primary path to a U.S. green card for top-tier applicants is set to be the Gold Card — and the price tag is written into the rulebook.