WASHINGTON: Just one individual has been authorised for United States President Donald Trump’s “gold card” visa programme thus far, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated on Thursday (Apr 23), referring to a million-dollar residency card unveiled final yr.
The US chief signed an order final September to create the programme providing residency for a charge of US$1 million. It began accepting purposes in December.
US officers have lately authorised one individual, Lutnick informed a US Home committee on Thursday.
“And there are tons of within the queue” who’re going by means of the method, he added.
Candidates additionally need to pay a US$15,000 Division of Homeland Safety processing charge, and Lutnick stated they’d undergo a “most severe vetting and evaluation”.
The “gold card” residency programme prices a US$1 million charge for people and US$2 million for sponsorships by firms.
Its creation got here on the similar time that Trump ordered an annual US$100,000 charge to be added to H-1B expert employee visas.
Trump initially stated the brand new visa would usher in job creators and could possibly be used to cut back the nationwide deficit.
Since returning to the presidency in 2025, Trump has tightened immigration and his administration has performed harsh deportation raids.
