Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Thursday that only one person has been granted residency through the administration's so-called "Gold Card" visa program. Lutnick made the disclosure during testimony before a U.S. House committee and added that applications from hundreds of other foreigners are in the review queue. He did not provide the identity of the approved applicant.
The initiative started accepting applications in December. According to Lutnick's remarks, candidates must pay a $1 million fee to secure residency under the program. In addition to that residency fee, the application process carries a $15,000 processing charge. Lutnick described the screening applied to candidates as "an extraordinary vet."
Administration officials have publicly framed the program as a means of drawing talent to the United States, with the president promoting it as such. Lutnick's testimony provided the first specific count of approvals disclosed to Congress since the program began accepting submissions.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately supply a response when asked about the program's approval rate or the status of the pending applications. The committee hearing testimony therefore remains the primary public account of the program's early implementation and throughput.
This initial report offers limited public detail beyond the number of approvals and the fees involved. The withholding of the approved applicant's identity and the absence of an immediate response from the Department of Homeland Security leave several operational questions unresolved in the public record.
What was said at the hearing
During his appearance before the House committee, Lutnick focused on volumetric information and the requirements applicants face. He confirmed the solitary approval, reiterated the fee structure, and characterized the vetting standard as particularly rigorous.
Public comment
Requests for comment to the Department of Homeland Security about the approval rate and backlog were not immediately answered, according to available information.