December 12, 2025 | 09:32 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Donald Trump on Wednesday launched the Trump Gold Card, a fast-track citizenship program requiring a $1 million contribution (approximately Rp16.6 billion) and a $15,000 processing fee. This marks a dramatic expansion of wealth-based immigration in the United States.
The announcement was made during a meeting with business and technology executives in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. Trump described this initiative as a way to help companies retain the best foreign talent and inject "tremendous income" into the government's coffers.
As reported by NDTV, Trump has spent months promoting this idea. At one point, Trump proposed paying up to $5 million per card before deciding on individual contributions of $1 million and $2 million for corporate sponsors.
Types of Trump Cards
According to the official website trumpcard.gov, the Trump Gold Card offers valid permanent residency status and is processed "very quickly" after the applicant pays a non-refundable DHS fee of $15,000. Candidates then undergo a background check and make a $1 million contribution to the U.S.
Qualified recipients will be granted status under the EB-1 or EB-2 category, depending on availability. They can bring their spouse and unmarried children under 21. Each person will incur separate fees and contributions.
Trump described the card as "basically, it's a green card but much better, much more powerful, a much stronger path," adding that all funds will be channeled to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the government would implement the "best selection process ever undertaken by the government." He emphasized that the new program would be filled with the "best" individuals and would be a "huge win for our country."
The U.S. government introduced the Corporate Trump Gold Card, which allows companies to sponsor foreign employees by contributing $2 million per worker, plus a $15,000 processing fee.
Companies can internally transfer this card with a 5 percent transfer fee and must pay an annual maintenance fee of 1 percent.
Applicants will manage their documents through myUSCIS.gov, attend visa interviews, and can expect a decision "in a matter of weeks" if all documents are complete.
Platinum Card and Trump's Policy Controversy
The Trump Platinum Card, in the premium tier and requiring a $5 million contribution, will be "coming soon." This card allows holders to stay in the U.S. for up to 270 days per year without paying U.S. taxes on foreign income, according to a report by Anadolu.
Trump stated that this program package would attract "tremendous" individuals to the U.S., particularly top graduates from China, India, and France, generally addressing corporate complaints about visa uncertainty.
However, Trump's move also represents a contradiction.
On one hand, his administration pursues mass deportations of immigrants and strict border restrictions.
On the other hand, he has repeatedly shown support for accepting wealthy immigrants, triggering criticism from his own political base.
Legal experts have also expressed concerns.
According to Anadolu, some experts argue that this initiative creates a new wealth-based immigration category without congressional approval. This could potentially conflict with the constitutional allocation of immigration powers to Congress.
Read: Trump Mocks European Leaders as "Weak" Over Immigration Policies
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