The Trump administration’s high-profilegold cardThe visa initiative has faced a weak response, with early participation rates well below expectations, according to newly revealed figures.
The program is promoted as a premium way for wealthy foreigners to seek residency benefits in the United States and is designed to attract significant investment while generating significant federal revenue.
However, preliminary data suggests interest in the program is far more limited than expected.
what the numbers show
So far, only 338 people have submitted applications for the Trump Gold Card program, according to a court filing cited by The Daily Beast. Of those, only 165 applicants paid the required $15,000 processing fee.
Also read: U.S. officials say one person was approved for Trump’s “Gold Card” visa program
The figures contrast with earlier projections from senior Trump administration officials, who described the program as a major potential revenue source.
High revenue commitments and early adoption
Last year, the Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick The program is expected to issue about 80,000 gold cards, potentially generating more than $100 billion in revenue for the federal government.
In an earlier speech, Lutnick also said that about 1,000 gold cards, worth $5 million each, had been issued ahead of the program’s official launch, underscoring the government’s expectations of strong global demand.
However, the latest application data shows that actual participation rates are significantly lower than forecast.
Also read: Why Nicki Minaj needs Trump’s gold card. How much did she pay? The first details revealed
legal uncertainty
The plan has also been hampered by legal and procedural challenges. It is currently facing a lawsuit from the Affirmative Action Democracy Defenders Fund, which has raised concerns about the initiative’s legality.
Reports indicate that this uncertainty and delays in implementation may lead to hesitancy among potential applicants.
Gold card plan is provided by Trump administration It is part of an immigration strategy aimed at attracting wealthy investors while tightening other immigration pathways.
The program has also attracted attention due to occasional public confusion, including claims from public figures such as rapper Nicki Minaj that were later clarified to refer to commemorative items rather than official visa documents.
