Only one individual has received a Trump 'gold card' visa to date

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Only one person has been approved for US President Donald Trump’s “gold card” visa program so far, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Thursday, referring to a million-dollar residency card unveiled last year.

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The US leader signed an order last September to create the program offering residency for a fee of $1 million. It started accepting applications in December.

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US officials have recently approved one person, Lutnick told a US House committee on Thursday.

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“And there are hundreds in the queue” who are going through the process, he added.

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Applicants also have to pay a $15,000 Department of Homeland Security processing fee, and Lutnick said they would go through a “most serious vetting and analysis.”

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The “gold card” residency program charges a $1 million fee for individuals and $2 million for sponsorships by corporations.

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Its creation came at the same time that Trump ordered an annual $100,000 fee be added to H-1B skilled worker visas.

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Trump initially said the new visa would bring in job creators and could be used to reduce the national deficit.

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Since returning to the presidency in 2025, Trump has tightened immigration and his administration has conducted harsh deportation raids.

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AFP

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