More than a year after announcing that wealthy foreigners can pay for a fast-tracked US visa, Donald Trump’s lucrative immigration plan isn’t nearly as popular as he thought.
The ‘Trump Gold Card’ is awarded to those who ‘provide a substantial benefit’ to the country, according to the scheme’s official website.
It promises US residency in ‘record time’ once a $1million fee is paid, which is used as evidence of the applicant’s ability to contrinute to the country.
To apply, applicants must also pay a nonrefundable $15,000 (£11,250) Department of Homeland Security processing fee.
A new court filing has revealed that just 338 people have applied to the expensive visa programme since it was announced in April of last year.
Out of those who applied, only 165 have paid the processing fee – meaning only $5,070,000 has been made so far, despite officials claiming the scheme would generate ‘significant revenue’.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who first announced the gold card, told lawmakers in late April that one person had been approved, with ‘hundreds’ in the queue.
The $1,000,000 fee is set to ensure that applicants have ‘extraordinary ability’ or ‘national interest’.
Other fees to the US Department of State may be necessary depending on circumstances, the site states.
The scheme’s official government website features a picture of the card, emblazoned with an image of a glowering Trump flanked by the Statue of Liberty.
Businesses can also get a shiny gold card for $2million.
The ‘Trump Corporate Gold Card’ gives companies the ability to grant their employees US residency.
The ‘Corporate Gold Card’ also allows a business to transfer access from one employee and grant it to another for a 5% fee.
A $5million Trump Platinum Card is also ‘coming soon’, according to the official website.
Holders will be able to spend up to 270 days in the US, without being subject to US taxes, on non-US income.
However, the scheme has faced criticism since it was announced, with some Democrats saying it would give wealthy immigrants an unfair advantage.
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