No. The official program describes it as a gift to the U.S. government made after successful vetting, preceded by a nonrefundable US$15,000 processing fee. It is not capital placed in an enterprise, produces no return and is not an EB-5 investment.
A gift is spent; an investment is at risk
The distinction matters because promoters sometimes present the Gold Card alongside EB-5 as if both were investments with different price points. EB-5 places capital in a commercial enterprise where it is at risk and may, if the business succeeds, be returned; the immigration benefit depends on that capital creating jobs. The Gold Card, on the official description checked September 7, 2026, involves a gift to the U.S.
government that is not returned and creates no ownership interest, with residence then pursued through EB-1 or EB-2. Hypothetical example: the South Frontenac architect has US$1.2 million in savings and is told he can either invest it or gift it; the honest comparison is between an at-risk investment that must produce ten jobs and a nonrecoverable gift that does not, each with its own eligibility rules. The nonrefundable processing fee is lost if vetting fails.
Professional fees, State Department costs and medical examinations may apply in addition. Verify the current amounts and payment instructions from the official page immediately before acting, and obtain tax advice in both countries on the treatment of a gift of that size.