The United States has approved only one applicant so far under President Donald Trump's 'Gold Card' visa programme, according to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The programme offers US residency in exchange for a $1 million fee.
Commerce Secretary's Testimony
Testifying before a US House committee on Thursday, Lutnick stated that the identity of the approved applicant was not disclosed. He added that 'hundreds' of other applications are currently under review, as reported by Bloomberg. According to him, all applicants must undergo 'extraordinary vetting' and pay a $15,000 processing fee before approval.
Programme Details
The Trump administration began accepting applications for the visa in December. The programme is being promoted as a way to attract wealthy and skilled individuals to the United States by offering permanent residency in exchange for a substantial financial contribution. Lutnick said the initiative is intended to bring talent into the country, though he did not provide details on processing timelines or selection criteria.
