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President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating a new immigration pathway known as the “Gold Card” visa program, while also issuing a proclamation that imposes new financial requirements and restrictions on the H-1B visa system for skilled foreign workers.
The Gold Card program directs the Department of Commerce, in coordination with the Departments of State and Homeland Security, to establish a process for expedited immigrant visas for individuals who contribute $1 million to the United States, or $2 million if donated by a corporation or similar entity on behalf of an applicant.
According to the order, the contributions will be deposited into the U.S. Treasury and used to promote commerce and American industry. The administration stated that the gifts would be treated as evidence of the individual’s business acumen and benefit to the nation, thereby expediting adjudication, subject to security and legal requirements. Agencies are instructed to create application processes, establish fees, and consider potential expansion of the program to other visa categories.
In a separate action, Trump signed a proclamation modifying the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. The declaration requires a $100,000 payment to accompany or supplement new H-1B petitions. The Departments of Homeland Security and State are directed to deny petitions submitted without payment and to implement verification and enforcement measures.
The proclamation further instructs the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security to issue guidance on compliance, including audits and penalties. It also calls for rulemaking to raise prevailing wage levels in the H-1B program and to prioritize approval for high-skilled, high-paid applicants.
The Trump administration has argued that the Gold Card initiative will attract wealthy investors and entrepreneurs, generate revenue, and encourage foreign investment in the U.S. economy. Officials say the H-1B restrictions are designed to curb abuses that displace American workers and to protect national security.
Administration materials pointed to data showing an increase in the share of IT workers with H-1B visas in recent years, along with reports of U.S. workers being asked to train foreign replacements.
The orders reflect Trump’s broader focus on reshaping U.S. immigration policy and trade. In his second term, Trump has promoted measures aimed at prioritizing American workers, using tariffs and new trade deals to encourage manufacturing and investment. The White House has also pointed to foreign investment pledges, including commitments from Japan and the European Union, as evidence of its economic strategy
The executive actions come as immigration and labor policy remain central issues for the administration, with supporters praising the steps as a realignment of federal policy toward national economic interests, and critics warning of barriers to skilled labor and potential challenges to implementation.
