Trump’s $1M ‘Gold Card’ Visa: What It Means for U.S. Employers and Immigration

Vikrant Gungash
Sep 27
2 min read

By Vikrant Singh, September 27, 2025

President Donald Trump has introduced a brand-new immigration pathway — the “Trump Gold Card” visa. This program offers permanent U.S. residency (a green card) and a path to citizenship in exchange for a $1 million investment. That’s an 80% drop from the originally proposed $5 million threshold, after weak interest from global investors.

The U.S. government says the Gold Card program is designed to raise funds for the Treasury and eventually replace traditional employment-based visas like EB-1 and EB-2. But what does this shift really mean for employers and skilled professionals? Let’s break it down.

Key Facts About the Gold Card Visa

Gold Card ($1M): Grants permanent residency and citizenship pathway for individuals who contribute $1 million directly to the U.S. government.
Corporate Gold Card ($2M): Allows companies to fast-track U.S. residency for an employee, with the ability to transfer that benefit to another worker later. Annual fees apply.
Platinum Card ($5M): A proposed future option that would allow up to 270 days in the U.S. annually without triggering U.S. taxes on non-U.S. income (pending Congress approval).
Impact on EB Visas: While the Gold Card was initially compared to EB-5, it may instead replace EB-1 and EB-2 pathways — visas that currently help skilled professionals migrate.

What Makes It Different?

Unlike EB-5, which requires investment in projects that create jobs for Americans, the Gold Card has no job-creation requirement. It’s purely wealth-based. That means:

Easier for wealthy individuals to buy their way into U.S. residency.
No guarantee of employment or job benefits for U.S. workers.

What Employers Need to Know

1. Talent Gaps Could Widen

The Gold Card is designed for the ultra-rich, not skilled professionals. Employers still looking for engineers, IT experts, healthcare professionals, and scientists must rely on traditional visas like H-1B, O-1, or EB-2 NIW.

2. Global Competition Is Heating Up

Countries like Canada, Australia, and the U.K. continue to attract skilled workers with simpler, faster visa processes. By focusing on wealth over skills, the U.S. risks losing top global talent to competitors.

3. Legal Caveats Remain

The Gold Card is being run by the Commerce Department (not USCIS), and many benefits — like the tax-free Platinum Card — still need Congressional approval. In other words, this program is not fully locked in yet.

What Employers Can Do

Stay Informed: Track immigration updates and how they affect your hiring pipeline. Joining business coalitions (e.g., U.S. Chamber of Commerce, TechNet) can give you a voice in policy debates.
Diversify Recruitment: Consider setting up offices or remote teams in immigration-friendly countries to avoid being limited by U.S. policy shifts.
Use Traditional Talent Visas: Options like O-1 (extraordinary ability), J-1 (research exchange), EB-1A, and EB-2 NIW remain solid pathways for bringing skilled workers into the U.S.

The Bottom Line

Trump’s Gold Card visa may open doors for wealthy investors, but it doesn’t address the U.S.’s ongoing skilled labor shortages. Employers will need to keep relying on existing work visas — and stay adaptable as immigration rules continue to shift.

At WeAbide®, we’re committed to helping individuals and employers navigate these complex changes with clarity and confidence.

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