Order directs agencies to build a donation-based immigrant visa program

The Commerce secretary must establish a Gold Card program with State and Homeland Security officials. An individual may qualify after giving $1 million, or a corporation or similar entity may give $2 million for an individual. The gift must be unrestricted and made to the Commerce Department under existing law. Visa processing must follow applicable law and public safety and national security requirements. The order does not create an enforceable legal right or benefit. The agencies must take necessary implementation steps within 90 days after September 19, 2025.

State and Homeland Security officials must treat the qualifying gift as evidence of business ability, national benefit, or eligibility for a national-interest waiver when reviewing visa applications. The direction covers applications tied to the Gold Card gifts and the existing visa categories listed in federal immigration law. Officials must still apply all other legal requirements. The gift is evidence of eligibility, not an automatic visa approval. Visa-number limits and public safety and national security screening still apply. The direction applies during visa adjudication after the agencies establish the program and its application process.

The agencies must set application and expedited-processing procedures, set related fees, and create a process for some corporate sponsors to transfer a sponsored person’s place to another individual. The procedures cover applicants, corporate or similar sponsors, and replacement individuals named by those sponsors. A replacement person must go through the same procedures and screening as an original applicant. The Commerce Department must place gifts in a separate Treasury fund and use them for commerce and American industry within its legal authority. The order allows agencies to consider extending the program to another investor visa category but does not require that expansion. Implementation depends on existing legal authority and available appropriations. The agencies must set the date when gifts may first be submitted and must take implementation steps within 90 days after September 19, 2025.