No. The official framework describes a fee, vetting and a gift, after which the applicant proceeds through EB-1 or EB-2 and must still be eligible for that category, admissible and have a visa number available.
The gift opens a door to a category, not around it
Hypothetical example: a Frontenac Islands resort owner reads that the Gold Card leads to permanent residence and assumes the sale proceeds settle the matter. The official FAQ, as checked September 7, 2026, describes something narrower: a nonrefundable processing fee, a vetting process and a gift to the U.S. government, after which successful applicants proceed under EB-1 or EB-2.
Those categories have their own tests. EB-1 requires extraordinary ability, outstanding research or a multinational executive or managerial role; EB-2 requires an advanced degree or exceptional ability. A hospitality operator with a college diploma and thirty years of experience may struggle to fit either, and the gift does not waive that inquiry.
Admissibility, including any past immigration or criminal history, is also assessed. Because the framework is new and may change, the couple should have an adviser assess the category question against the official text on the day they decide, and should treat any statement that payment alone secures residence as unverified. Hypothetical example: A Frontenac Islands publishing-company director has substantial sale proceeds but no obvious award, research record, or multinational-management history.
The first review should test the person’s evidence against the available EB-1 criteria and, if applicable, the EB-2 criteria before any payment decision. Employment records, degrees, publications, and organizational documents settle what category arguments exist. Wealth may explain the source of a gift payment, but it does not replace the underlying immigrant-category criteria or admissibility review.