IN THIS GUIDE · Identify what an incomplete proposal still needs to establish
Define the applicant and sponsorship proposal
Hypothetical example: an applicant has a short program summary but has not established whether the contemplated payment is individual or corporate. Identify the applicant, payer and intended family inclusion. Different assumptions should be resolved against the official framework before a financial commitment is assessed.
Use official terms for the substantive comparison
Review current official instructions and the FAQ for the relevant obligations. A third-party summary may omit conditions or use old terms. Keep any unresolved discrepancy explicit instead of assuming the more favourable description governs.
Separate ability to pay from eligibility
A financial statement may address resources but does not decide classification, vetting or admissibility. Prepare the individual questions relevant to the actual process. Do not describe a gift as a commercial investment or promise that it creates recoverable enterprise value.
Mark the genuine process stage
A consultation, introduction or draft proposal is not an approval. Identify what has actually been submitted or decided and what remains to be done. Present U.S. work or residence must rely on actual permission, not an anticipated future outcome.
Follow the official payment sequence and individual amounts
The September 7, 2026 official terms describe a nonrefundable US$15,000 processing fee per person, followed by vetting and a gift to the U.S. government after successful vetting and official instructions. The principal gift is US$1,000,000 individually or US$2,000,000 for a corporate-sponsored employee. Each eligible joining spouse or unmarried child under 21 adds US$15,000 and a US$1,000,000 gift, including corporate cases. Corporate terms also describe 1% annual maintenance and a 5% transfer charge with a new background check, subject to actual governing conditions, not an automatic reuse right. EB-1 or EB-2 eligibility, admissibility and visa availability remain separate requirements.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.