Much pomp and little nothing. President Donald Trump’s “gold card,” which allows millionaire foreigners to live and work legally in the United States after making a six-figure outlay, has been approved only once. The revelation was made by the Secretary of Commerce himself, Howard Lutnick, who in December of last year assured that the visa had raised an amount of 1.3 billion dollars.
To understand Lutnick’s numbers, you have to review his past statements. In June 2025, the official reported that . Applicants must pay a fee of $15,000 during the process, which allows for a “rigorous evaluation” of those applying for the visa, which eventually opens the way to US citizenship. The secretary says hundreds of applications are still awaiting approval.
The program also allows corporations to invest $2 million in a foreign-born employee, along with a 1% annual maintenance fee. “It is, in essence, the green card (), but improved,” said President Trump during the launch, noting that the visa would cost $5 million – which was later lowered to $1 million – and guaranteeing that the initiative would attract foreign talent to the United States and contribute to increased federal revenue. In reality, what the Republican did was replace the EB-5 program, a decades-old visa that offered legal residency to investors with the ability to invest a million dollars in a company with at least 10 employees.
The golden visa features a splash that opens with the phrase “Unlock your life in America” over an image of a gold card bearing Donald Trump’s face, along with a bald eagle, the Statue of Liberty and his scribbled signature. The page now promotes the next “Trump Platinum Card” – this one worth $5 million – which provides a particular tax incentive to those interested.
“Foreign citizens can register now and secure their place on the waiting list for the Trump Platinum Card. Once launched, and after paying a processing fee of $15,000 to , and a subsequent contribution of $5 million, they will be able to stay up to 270 days in the United States without being subject to US taxes on income earned outside the country,” the corresponding section reads.
Secretary Lutnick did not offer details on the use that will be given to the funds obtained from the visa procedures. “The use of this money will be determined by the Administration, seeking to ensure that it is for the benefit of the nation,” he added.
Although the Trump Administration has built and operates an immigration offensive that already exceeds half a million deportees, it has been in favor of the arrival of millionaires and qualified professionals to the country, designing programs such as the gold card for this purpose. This idea is relatively common in first world countries, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Italy, all with their own versions of golden visas.
