By Cyrus Mehta
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies (USCIS) has posted a brand new kind for the “Trump Gold Card” immigrant visa program, Type I-140G, Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program. This system requires a minimal “contribution” of $1 million together with a hefty software charge. Candidates might solely file the shape after they’ve registered their data on trumpcard.gov and acquired affirmation that their submission was accepted. USCIS will contact the applicant when it’s time to create or log in to their USCIS on-line account to file the shape.
The shape, dated 11/19/2025, was created beneath “The Gold Card,” Govt Order 14351. The charge for Type I-140G is $15,000 per particular person (principal beneficiary, partner, or baby(ren), as relevant). Further Division of State (DOS) “small charges” might apply “relying on the applicant.” For a company or comparable entity submitting on behalf of a person, the required “reward” to the USA is $2 million for the principal beneficiary, and $1 million per particular person for any accompanying partner or youngsters listed on the petition, along with the charge(s).
The Trump administration additionally introduced a “Trump Platinum Card,” coming quickly, for which overseas nationals can be a part of a ready checklist. When launched, and upon receipt of a $15,000 processing charge and a $5 million contribution, candidates can have the flexibility to spend as much as 270 days in the USA with out being topic to U.S. taxes on non-U.S. earnings. Further DOS “small charges” might apply “relying on the applicant.” These “who’ve ever been topic to U.S. tax on non-U.S. earnings (e.g., U.S. residents and resident aliens) aren’t eligible to use for the Trump Platinum Card.”
It’s unclear how lengthy processing will take. The web site states, “As soon as an applicant’s processing charge and software are acquired, the method ought to take weeks. The applicant might want to attend a visa interview and submit any extra paperwork in a well timed method.” Nonetheless, practitioners expressed issues that it might take years in some circumstances.
Trump’s Gold Card is an incredible feat in govt legerdemain. Though Congress has not explicitly approved it, the Gold Card has been cleverly appended to the employment-based first desire (EB-1) and second preferences (EB-2) by way of govt order. The $1 million and extra is taken into account a present to the USA beneath 15 USC 1522, and would show by way of the submitting of an I-140G petition the applicant’s eligibility beneath the particular person of extraordinary class beneath INA 203(b)(1)(A) or beneath the individuals of remarkable skill and nationwide curiosity waiver class beneath INA 203(b)(2). If you’re born in India watch out for Trump’s Gold Card as you can be caught within the India EB-1or EB-2 backlog for years and even many years after you’ve gotten shelled out $1 million or extra and received’t see your inexperienced card for a really very long time or by no means.
Now we have at all times advocated for immigration advantages by way of govt actions for years. Whereas we’re supportive of the Gold Card as one other revolutionary profit by way of govt motion, it’s also hypocritical that this administration has been eliminating different govt actions of prior presidential administrations similar to humanitarian parole and deferred motion for childhood arrivals and particular immigrant juveniles. If the Trump administration has launched the Gold Card by way of govt motion, why not go additional to profit many extra immigrants within the inexperienced card backlogs. The administration can advance the submitting dates within the State Division Visa Bulletin to present, or near present, so many individuals within the backlogs with permitted I-140 petitions can file for adjustment of standing together with beneficiaries of the I-140 petition for the Gold Card.
As with different govt actions, the Gold Card won’t be resistant to challenges in federal court docket that it was issued with out Congressional authorization and even and not using a regulation beneath the Administration Process Act. If a court docket blocks the Gold Card candidates might not get their a refund. Furthermore, one other president can rescind the Gold Card too. Nonetheless, as has been the case with the Trump administration rescinding DACA or SIJ deferred motion, plaintiffs might be able to get a court docket to maintain the Gold Card program intact for a few years if the recission didn’t issue within the reliance pursuits of the stakeholders. Patrons of Trump’s Gold Card ought to make the leap with their eyes vast open – that’s if they will afford spending and even throwing away $1 million and extra.
