Do You Want a Trump Gold Card Visa?

The proposed Trump Gold Card is a newly introduced US visa program where foreign individuals may be able obtain lawful permanent residency (green card status under EB-1 or EB-2 classifications) by making a “gift” of USD 1 million to the US government. Corporate applications may also be possible: a USD 2 million gift per employee by a sponsoring company may qualify under the Corporate Gold Card. The applicant would also have pay a nonrefundable processing fee, proposed momentarily by President Trump at USD 100,000, and undergo standard background, vetting, and admissibility checks.

A Trump Platinum Card is reportedly in development, with a waiting list already forming. For a processing fee and, following DHS vetting, a USD 5 million contribution, holders may be permitted to spend up to 270 days per year in the United States without being subject to US taxes on non-US income.

Moving forward, US Congress requires draft legislation, and congressional approval before implementation.

Considerations from Alpen Partners

For our clients exploring this pathway, the proposed Gold Card presents both opportunity and complexity:

• Capital allocation & legal structure: USD 1 million (or 2 million for corporate sponsorship) would be required — this should be evaluated in light of liquidity, tax planning, and existing investment/wealth structure.
• Tax implications: Once a permanent US resident, holders are treated like other US permanent residents and are subject to US tax rules. How non-US income will be taxed, particularly during transitions, must be carefully planned to reduce US tax obligations on foreign investment holdings.
• Regulatory & policy risk: The proposed program is new, and legal/constitutional questions exist around executive authority vs. Congressional consent.

How we can help

As your trusted fianncial advisor and global wealth planner, our role is to support you in assessing whether the Trump Gold Card or any of the other options could align with your broader goals:

1. Structuring & funding — reviewing if the required gift is optimized for your overall portfolio, considering your Swiss and international investments, cash flow, and estate planning.
2. Tax advisory — reviewing US and other tax implications (especially cross-border taxation), and advising on timing, reporting, and residency questions.
3. Regulatory & immigration counsel — working with immigration lawyers to explore fulfilling the requirements and admissibility , compliance, and manage risks like revocation, or policy shifts.

If you’re considering this pathway, let’s get started and schedule a review. We can run through whether the Trump Gold Card (or other options) could make strategic sense for you, factoring in your family, business interests, and long-term goals.

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The above information should be considered before making any investment decisions.

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