Only one person received Trump's "golden visa" for $1 million

The Trump administration’s program, which was touted as a major source of revenue for the budget, is currently yielding minimal results due to bureaucratic red tape. During congressional hearings, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick confirmed that only one application had been approved, despite hundreds of applicants waiting in line. 

The Associated Press reports on the actual status of this ambitious initiative, which the U.S. president has called a “green card on steroids.”

The identity of the first visa recipient has not been disclosed, but it is known that he paid a $1 million fee and $15,000 for a security check. Current figures differ significantly from government projections, as in December 2025, officials had predicted billions in revenue within the first few days of the program’s launch. 

Minister Lutnik previously claimed that this mechanism would help attract $1 trillion to the country and eliminate the national debt. The program is intended to replace older visa schemes such as the EB-5, offering fast-track residency and work authorization in exchange for a direct investment. Despite the slow start, the administration continues to insist on the effectiveness of selecting “the best talent and capital.” 

The situation with “golden visas” remains a subject of heated debate in Washington due to the discrepancy between the promised revenue and the actual number of permits issued. The project’s future will depend on the speed of candidate vetting and the willingness of foreign investors to invest under the new rules. Currently, U.S. authorities are preparing to process the next batch of pending applications. The next report on the program’s revenue is expected to be submitted to Congress by the end of the fiscal year. Thus, Trump’s innovative approach to immigration is facing its first serious reality check.

A new immigration program has launched in Uzbekistan—the so-called “golden visas,” which will allow wealthy foreigners and their family members to obtain a five-year residence permit in the country. 

We would also like to remind you that Spain has stopped issuing so-called golden visas—residence permits granted in exchange for investments in the country’s economy.