Trump's Gold Card Visa Becomes a Global Embarrassment as Only 338 People Apply Out of 80,000

US President Donald Trump's high-tier immigration scheme is facing widespread rejection from its target demographic, with prominent attorneys actively advising wealthy clients against applying for the multimillion-dollar visa due to significant legal and financial uncertainties.

The individual Gold Card requires a $1 million (£741,000) contribution plus a $15,000 (£11,109) DHS processing fee; a corporate variant for employer-sponsored employees requires $2 million (£1.48m) per employee. The programme was announced via executive order in February 2025 and formally launched in December 2025, but the absence of congressional codification leaves it on unstable legal footing.

Trump Gold Card Visa Faces Legal Hurdles

The Washington Post reported that seven lawyers representing the programme's target demographic cited ongoing litigation, tax implications, and the absence of a congressional mandate as primary reasons to avoid the scheme.

Even legal counsel with direct ties to the Trump family have expressed deep reluctance. Michael Wildes, an immigration attorney who has represented First Lady Melania Trump, her naturalised-citizen parents, and the Kushner family, confirmed he will not accept clients seeking the visa.

'It would be unethical of me to retain them,' Wildes told the Post, questioning the fundamental legality of the framework. He has also represented various Miss Universe titleholders.

Immigration specialist Rosanna Berardi similarly confirmed she routinely turns away foreign nationals interested in the Gold Card. 'As immigration counsel, our obligation is always to protect our clients' interests,' Berardi stated. 'And we do not believe it is appropriate to recommend a program with such significant legal uncertainty and financial risk, even when clients express a desire to proceed.'

Only 338 People Apply for the Visa

The hesitation among top-tier legal representatives is reflected in the government's own data. According to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) court filing submitted last week, only 338 people have formally submitted requests for the document.

Furthermore, just 165 of those applicants have completed the process of paying the $15,000 (£11,109) processing fee. Despite widespread legal warnings, a small subset of foreign nationals remains intent on securing the document.

Immigration attorney Mona Shah confirmed she represents two clients currently navigating various stages of the application process. Shah told the Post that her clients — wealthy individuals originating from Nigeria and Pakistan — are willing to absorb the financial loss. She noted that she explicitly warned them the initiative might amount to 'false advertising' and ultimately fail to deliver legal residency.

Target of 80,000 Visas Met With Scrutiny

The current application figures contrast sharply with previous administration assertions. Last year, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick declared that the federal government would generate more than $100 billion (£74.1bn) in revenue by issuing 80,000 of the elite visas.

The vast discrepancy between Lutnick's projections and the actual DHS records extends beyond overarching targets. In March, Lutnick publicly claimed the administration had already handed out 1,000 Gold Cards for $5 million (£3.7m) each, months before the programme officially launched. The Commerce Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the conflicting timelines.

Questions also remain regarding exactly what privileges the visa conveys. The recent DHS filing clarified that the new category would not supersede existing EB-1 or EB-2 visas, which are firmly established employment-based routes reserved for workers demonstrating extraordinary ability.

Nicki Minaj Gold Card Labelled A Memento

While the broader rollout has stalled, Lutnick recently informed lawmakers that at least one individual had successfully received a Gold Card. The identity of that recipient has not been officially disclosed.

Speculation online has centred on the rapper Nicki Minaj, who recently indicated on social media that she had been given one of the cards following her alignment with the president's political movement.

However, a White House official clarified to The Washington Post that the item given to the musician was merely a 'memento', rather than a genuine, legally binding immigration document.