Trump's Gold Card Visa Program Attracts Only One Applicant Despite $1M Cost

Gate News message, April 25 — The Trump administration's premium 'gold card' visa program, launched last year to attract wealthy individuals and companies to the United States, has drawn minimal interest. Only one person has been approved for the visa since the scheme began, according to reports on April 25.

The gold card requires a $1 million gift per individual or $2 million for companies seeking visas for employees, plus a $15,000 Department of Homeland Security processing fee. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick initially projected the program could generate approximately $100 billion for the U.S. government, with plans to issue around 80,000 cards. However, the administration has approved only one unnamed applicant to date. Lutnick stated that "hundreds" of applications are queued, though the disparity between applications received and approvals granted remains stark.

According to the official Trump Gold Card website, applicants must demonstrate they will provide "substantial benefit" to the United States. A platinum version of the card, priced at $5 million and offering up to 270 days in the U.S. without taxation on non-U.S. income, is listed as "coming soon." The gold card is intended to replace existing employment-based visa categories, EB-1 and EB-2, for individuals with "exceptional value" to the nation.