Immigration
The Gold Card
Trump orders creation of a Gold Card program offering expedited employment-based immigration processing in exchange for large financial gifts.
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The program would treat qualifying gifts as evidence supporting certain employment-based visa categories and national-interest waivers, while retaining legal limits, security screening, and visa caps.
What the order does
- Requires a $1 million personal gift or a $2 million corporate-sponsored gift to the Department of Commerce.
- Directs the Departments of Commerce, State, and Homeland Security to establish application, visa, and status-adjustment procedures within 90 days.
- Allows qualifying gifts to serve as evidence of extraordinary or exceptional business ability, national benefit, and eligibility for a national-interest waiver.
- Requires gifts to be placed in a separate Treasury fund and used to promote U.S. commerce and industry.
- Authorizes processing, maintenance, and corporate sponsorship transfer fees.
- Directs officials to consider expanding the program to immigrant investors.
Who it affects
- Wealthy foreign entrepreneurs, investors, and businesspeople seeking employment-based immigration status.
- Corporations and similar entities willing to sponsor foreign applicants with a $2 million gift.
- Federal immigration and commerce officials responsible for screening applicants, processing cases, and managing funds.
Context
Corporate sponsors may transfer their sponsorship to another applicant, who must undergo the same screening and application procedures.