Yesterday, President Trump officially unveiled the “Gold Card” website, marking the first tangible milestone toward the Administration’s aim of enhancing merit-based immigration in the United States.
Here are the facts, the implications, and our perspective on the latest developments.
What Happened:
On June 11, President Trump announced the launch of the Gold Card website via a post on the TruthSocial platform. While the Gold Card proposal remains conceptual and does not yet have a legislative framework behind it, timeline for rollout, or Congressional backing, the new website allows for those interested to complete a form in order “to be notified the moment access opens.”
Why it Matters:
The launch of the website is the first proofpoint of the proposal’s progress toward becoming a fully-realized program, since it was first announced in February.
What it Means (And Doesn’t Mean) for EB-5:
As of yet, no formal legislation, policy updates, or executive orders have been enacted or issued that would formally establish the existence of a Gold Card program.
As of today, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program remains a Congressionally authorized, operational, and expedited pathway to permanent residency in the United States.
To reiterate the fundamental state of investment-by-immigration, as it stands:
- EB-5 is law, backed by decades of precedent, operationalized through established infrastructure, and fully reauthorized by Congress through September 30, 2027 under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA).
- Investors who file I-526E (conditional green card) petitions by September 30, 2026 are protected by grandfathering provisions.
- Legally, this means United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must continue processing petitions that applicants file prior to the aforementioned date, even if the EB-5 program were to be discontinued.
Parallel Paths; Shared Goals
Though the Gold Card and EB-5 are structurally distinct – they share a common policy direction: harnessing the power of foreign investment to stimulate the economy. While new ideas like the Gold Card represent momentum toward expanding access to immigration for qualified investors and innovators around the world, EB-5 remains the most expedited and immediate option for high-net-worth individuals seeking permanent residency in the United States.
