Million-Dollar US Visa Program Approves Just One Applicant Since Launch

Million-Dollar US Visa Program Approves Just One Applicant Since Launch

2026-04-24 politics

Washington, Friday, 24 April 2026.
Despite earlier claims of billion-dollar demand, the million-dollar US residency program has approved just a single applicant since December, raising serious questions about its viability.

A Staggering Gap Between Projections and Reality

On Thursday, April 23, 2026, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the House Appropriations Committee that only a single individual has been approved for the Trump administration’s Gold Card visa [1][2]. The immigration initiative, implemented by President Donald Trump via executive order in September 2025 and officially launched for applications in December 2025, was designed to provide wealthy foreign nationals with an expedited pathway to U.S. citizenship [2][4]. Despite Lutnick confirming that “hundreds” of applications are currently in the queue, the solitary approval over a four-month period points to severe administrative bottlenecks [2][GPT].

The Mechanics of the “Green Card on Steroids”

The Gold Card program operates by utilizing EB-1 and EB-2 visas, categories traditionally capped by Congress and reserved for immigrants demonstrating “extraordinary” or “exceptional” ability [4][5]. To secure this fast-tracked residency, an individual applicant must pay a $15,000 nonrefundable processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), followed by a mandatory $1 million “gift” to the U.S. government [2][3]. The administration also offers a corporate tier, allowing companies to sponsor foreign-born employees for a $2 million payment, coupled with a $20,000 annual maintenance fee and a 5 percent transfer fee if the employee switches roles [4][5][7].

National Security and Vetting Hurdles

The near-standstill in approvals appears deeply tied to national security concerns and rigorous background checks. During his congressional testimony, Lutnick defended the slow pace, asserting that the administration “wanted to make sure they did it perfectly” [2]. He characterized the DHS vetting procedures for the Gold Card as “the most serious vetting and analysis of any potential applicant in the history of government” [4]. While the identity of the sole approved applicant remains undisclosed [alert! ‘The government has not officially released the name of the approved individual’], the intense scrutiny applied to the applicant queue is evident [2][3].

The pay-to-play policy has predictably sparked significant legal backlash. In February 2026, a coalition of immigrants filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the program, arguing that it illegally circumvents standard immigration queues and prioritizes “wealth over intellect or ability” [4][7]. The legal pressure compounded in April 2026 when government watchdog organizations, including the Free Information Group, sued to force the release of program records [4]. Kevin Bell, the group’s co-founder, sharply criticized the initiative, accusing the federal government of treating U.S. visas like “million-dollar Mar-a-Lago memberships” [4][7].

Sources


Immigration policy Foreign investment