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Trump $1 Million 'Gold Card' Visa Has Approved Only One Applicant

Lutnick said this week that only one applicant has been approved for the $1 million "gold card" visa tied to Donald Trump's proposal, a revelation that highlights scant uptake of the program.

He made the comment in a post shared by CBS MoneyWatch on Facebook. Lutnick did not identify the approved applicant or say when the approval occurred. The remark has renewed questions about whether the plan is being used or is practical to implement.

The "gold card" has been described as a $1 million residency pathway tied to Trump's policy proposals. Supporters have pitched it as a way to attract wealthy donors or investors. Critics have questioned its legality and feasibility from the start.

The single-approval figure, if accurate, suggests limited demand or administrative hurdles for the initiative. Government agencies have not publicly confirmed the count, and the debate over the program's future is likely to continue.

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📌 Key Facts

  • Only one 'gold card' visa has been approved since applications began in December, according to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick
  • The visa requires a $1 million donation to the U.S. government plus $15,000 in Department of Homeland Security processing fees
  • Lutnick says there are 'hundreds' of applications in the queue and describes the vetting as the most serious in government history
  • President Trump created the gold card as an expedited residency path for wealthy foreigners and a revenue source
  • Lutnick told Congress the donations will be used for the 'betterment' of the U.S., with specifics to be decided by the administration

📰 Source Timeline (1)

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April 23, 2026
8:57 PM
Only one Trump "gold card" visa has been approved, Lutnick says
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