IN THIS GUIDE · Weigh a gift-based framework against a rural household's actual assets and priorities
Start with the GOLD CARD eligibility and application overview
Separate land or business value from actual liquid funds available
A household may be asset-rich through farmland or a business while the gift and fee still need to be paid in cash. Confirm the current individual or corporate terms as checked on September 7, 2026 — a US$1 million individual gift plus a US$15,000 processing fee, or the corporate terms — and identify realistically how those funds would actually be raised without assuming property value alone solves the liquidity question. The processing charge is nonrefundable; the gift follows successful vetting and official instructions. A sale closing date is not a government instruction to send the gift.
Account for every family member's own additional cost
Hypothetical example: a Strathroy-Caradoc family reads the individual figure and assumes selling part of the farm covers the household. The FAQ states an additional US$15,000 fee and US$1 million gift per included spouse or eligible unmarried child under 21 — rebuild the total for the actual family being included before deciding what, if anything, needs to be sold or borrowed against.
Keep the eligibility and vetting questions separate from the funding plan
Assess the applicant’s EB-1 or EB-2 classification, admissibility and visa availability separately from the asset-sale calendar. Property value does not waive vetting or guarantee a completion date. Keep requested records and actual notices together so a commercial deadline is not mistaken for an immigration decision.
Compare the gift framework with the household's other options
If the family is also considering selling agricultural land to fund an EB-5 investment instead, compare the two paths on their own separate terms — one is a gift toward a described gift-based framework, and the other is capital invested in a business with its own risks and job-creation requirements. Recheck the current official instructions for whichever path is actually pursued before committing funds. Corporate sponsorship involves a US$2 million gift per sponsored employee, alongside the per-person processing fee. The official corporate terms describe 1% annual maintenance and a 5% transfer charge with a new background check; transferring sponsorship does not automatically approve a replacement. Use the current FAQ for the actual household and corporate obligations rather than treating a family-owned company as exempt.
Re-verify the official terms immediately before any money moves
The official program operates through EB-1 or EB-2, as appropriately determined by the responsible agencies and subject to visa availability. After vetting and the gift, the case proceeds to an EB-1 or EB-2 determination, subject to visa availability, and may involve an interview or further documents. The official program page sets out how applications and payments are made; verify it on the day of payment, because terms, amounts and procedures should be re-verified before any money moves. The relevant record is the official notice directing the payment, not an adviser’s summary or a company reimbursement promise. The applicant should make the payment directed by the official process, not route the required amount through a business, a donor, or a private intermediary. The official program materials should be saved with their date and version, along with the applicant’s payment confirmations and the instructions received after screening. The nonrefundable processing payment, instructed gift, and any private services invoice have different purposes and should not be merged in a single description. A sponsor, employer or bank can assist with logistics only after the payment source, applicant responsibility and official instructions are clear.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.