Only One Person Granted Donald Trump's 'Gold Card' Visa So Far

Last Updated:April 23, 2026, 23:19 IST

The Trump administration began accepting applications for the visa in December as part of an effort to draw wealthy individuals.

The United States has cleared just one applicant under President Donald Trump’s proposed “Gold Card" visa scheme, which offers residency in return for a USD 1 million payment. The update was shared by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during a hearing before a US House committee on Thursday.

The program has attracted strong interest, but approvals remain limited. Lutnick told lawmakers that applications from “hundreds" of foreign nationals are currently being examined, indicating a large pipeline despite the slow pace of clearances, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Lutnick didn’t reveal the identity of the applicant who had been approved. He said in testimony to a US House committee that applications for the visa from “hundreds" more foreigners are under review.

Applicants must go through “an extraordinary vet" and must pay a USD 15,000 processing fee, he said.

The Trump administration began accepting applications for the visa in December as part of an effort to draw wealthy individuals and skilled professionals to the country. Under the scheme, selected applicants are granted US residency after paying USD 1 million, reported the outlet.

Officials have stressed that the vetting process is rigorous, involving detailed background checks before any approval is granted. The fact that only one application has been cleared so far suggests that authorities are proceeding with caution despite the level of interest.

The US Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the status of pending applications or when further approvals may be issued.

The “Gold Card" visa has been pitched as a way to boost investment and attract global talent. However, with just one approval to date, the rollout appears to be progressing more slowly than anticipated.

News world Only One Person Granted Donald Trump's 'Gold Card' Visa So Far

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