IN THIS GUIDE · Read the current official gift-based framework before committing money
Identify whether the proposal is individual or corporate
The official FAQ describes different terms depending on whether the applicant is an individual or a corporate sponsor. As checked on September 7, 2026, an individual principal's stated gift is US$1,000,000 with a US$15,000 nonrefundable processing fee, while corporate sponsorship describes a US$2,000,000 gift per sponsored employee under its own additional terms. Confirm the operative instructions for the actual proposal before any payment is made. Keep an official-source log. Save the program terms consulted, dated payment records, receipts, and notices requesting additional action. This is more dependable than a third party’s paraphrase when later steps change or need clarification.
Calculate the household total person by person
Hypothetical example: a Halifax household reads the individual headline figure and assumes it is the total cost for the family. The official FAQ states additional processing fees and gifts for each accompanying spouse or eligible unmarried child under 21 included in the application, so the budget needs to be rebuilt for every included person rather than assumed from the principal applicant's figure alone. Separate payment analysis from immigration analysis. Confirm who sends the required amount, where it is sent, what the record proves, and which later eligibility issues have not yet been decided.
Keep vetting, eligibility and payment as separate steps
The official process describes an application and fee, further USCIS instructions and supporting documents, vetting, and the gift when instructed, while the applicant must still be eligible for lawful permanent residence, admissible, and have an available visa. Compare this against EB-5's investment-and-job-creation framework with independent legal and financial advice rather than treating either route as an automatic approval. Plan the household individually. Relationship documents, ages, passports, and each person’s immigration history may affect later steps, so the principal applicant’s action should not be treated as a substitute for every family member’s review.
Verify the payee and instruction stage before transferring funds
Treat the payment recipient and timing as legal facts. The gift is legally an unrestricted gift to the Department of Commerce under 15 U.S.C. § 1522. Commerce must deposit it in a separate fund in the Department of the Treasury and use it to promote commerce and American industry under Commerce’s statutory authority. The current process begins with a nonrefundable DHS processing fee; after it settles, USCIS sends instructions for Form I-140G and supporting documents. DHS conducts vetting before requesting the program gift. Confirm the official request, payee, portal instructions, and applicant identity, and re-verify every term before funds move. Hypothetical example: a Halifax animation-studio founder receives wire instructions from an adviser before any official gift request, with a memo calling it a direct government gift. The founder should compare them with the current official portal and obtain advice rather than accepting the shorthand. Gold Card is not EB-5; its gift is treated as evidence in an EB-1 or EB-2 adjudication, and sending money does not guarantee eligibility, admissibility, visa availability, or approval.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.