US Launches ‘Gold Card’ Visa With $1 Million Fee, Promising Faster EB-1 & EB-2 Green Cards

The US government has officially launched President Donald Trump’s new “Gold Card” visa programme, offering wealthy individuals and companies an expedited pathway to US residency. The scheme, which replaces the long-running EB-5 investor visa, went live on Wednesday after a dedicated government portal opened for applications.

Unveiled in the Roosevelt Room with top US business leaders in attendance, the Gold Card visa introduces a steep price tag — $1 million for individual applicants and $2 million per foreign-born employee for companies. According to Trump, the programme aims to attract global talent while generating substantial revenue for the US Treasury.

“All funds taken in as part of the programme will go to the US government,” Trump said, calling the Gold Card “a green card, but much better, much stronger.” The President suggested the scheme could channel billions into government accounts, helping fund national initiatives.

Replaces EB-5, Removes Job-Creation Requirement

The Gold Card visa marks a major shift from the EB-5 visa, which since 1990 has required foreign investors to invest $1 million and create at least 10 jobs. The new programme removes job-creation obligations entirely, instead emphasising high-value contributions and expedited green card processing.

Tech CEOs, including Michael Dell, Arvind Krishna (IBM), Enrique Lores (HP), and Antonio Neri (HPE), joined the announcement. Many have long warned that US companies struggle to retain foreign graduates due to visa backlogs and uncertainty — an issue Trump highlighted during the launch.

How the Gold Card Visa Works

The programme was first announced in September, with an executive order instructing federal agencies to fully implement it by December 18.

Launch details include:

$1 million fee for individual applicants

$2 million fee per employee sponsored by a company

$15,000 vetting and processing fee

A future $5 million Platinum Card allowing up to 270 days in the US tax-free on foreign income

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said applicants will receive “expedited EB-1 or EB-2 green cards following rigorous vetting”.

Eligibility: EB-1A or EB-2 NIW Applicants

Applicants must file using existing immigration categories:

EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability)

EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver)

NIW applicants must also submit an uncertified ETA-9089 form.

Extensive Personal, Financial & Security Disclosures

Gold Card applicants must provide detailed personal history, including:

20-year employment record

Complete education and marital history

Passport, travel, and immigration information

Government, military or political roles held

Financial disclosures include:

Net worth verification

Source of funds

5 years of bank statements

7 years of tax returns

Business records, property sale documents, and income proof

Full list of all global accounts, including crypto wallets

Applicants must also outline the full path of funds used for payment.

Security & Integrity Checks

Applicants must answer 14 security questions covering:

Criminal and civil offences

Money laundering and sanctions

Espionage and terrorism

Human trafficking

Foreign funding

Genocide or human rights violations

“Yes” answers require complete documentation.

Processing Rules

$15,000 processing fee is non-refundable

English translations required for foreign records

Biometrics and interviews may be scheduled

False statements can lead to prosecution

Final decisions issued both digitally and in writing

Uncertainty Around Congressional Approval

Whether Congress needs to formally approve the Gold Card remains unclear. Officials argue that the programme can legally rely on existing immigration categories, making new legislation unnecessary.

For now, the Gold Card visa is live — and already attracting global attention due to its high price tag, green card promises, and the most intensive vetting requirements ever imposed on a US residency programme.