US Approves First Gold Card Visa Under President Trump's Program

U.S. government has approved one application for the gold card visa program, which requires a minimum investment of $1 million for foreigners to legally live and work in the United States, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated during a congressional committee hearing on Thursday.

Launched in December 2025, the program replaces the EB-5 visa, which offered visas to investors contributing about $1 million to a company employing at least 10 people.

Each applicant pays a $15,000 fee, on top of their million bucks, which allows for “rigorous vetting” of those applying to the program that eventually opens a path to U.S. citizenship. It also allows corporations to spend $2 million for a foreign-born employee, along with a 1% annual maintenance fee.

It boasts a glitzy government website with the phrase “Unlock life in America” above a depiction of a gold card: Trump’s stern visage, aside a bald eagle, the Statue of Liberty, and his squiggled signature.

Proposed the idea in 2025, initially suggesting a $5 million threshold, to attract foreign talent and generate revenue. ” The publicly held debt is $31.3 trillion and outside projections by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget are that this fiscal year’s annual budget deficit will be roughly $2 trillion.

After it launched in December, Lutnick said that the government had sold $1.3 billion “worth” in just several days. He did not address the apparent discrepancy in an exchange with a congresswoman at Thursday’s committee hearing.

Of applications are in the queue, with officials ensuring proper setup, Lutnick said. “They’ve just set it up, and they wanted to make sure they did it perfectly,” he said. ” The idea is relatively common around the world, with dozens of countries offering versions of “golden visas” to wealthy individuals, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Malta, Australia, Canada and Italy.

President Trump has supported skilled immigration while advocating for deportation of those without legal status.