Calculate the net proceeds actually available after sale costs and taxes, then compare that figure honestly against the full Gold Card family total or the EB-5 investment and project costs, rather than assuming either path is automatically affordable.
Do the arithmetic before choosing a route
Calculate net sale proceeds with the appropriate adviser, then prepare separate route budgets. Gold Card adds the official fee and gift for each eligible included spouse or unmarried child under 21. EB-5 eligible derivatives do not each require another principal investment, although immigration and professional costs still need budgeting. Compare liquidity, eligibility and commercial risk as separate questions; the lower total alone does not decide suitability.
Gold Card begins online: DHS collects a separate nonrefundable processing fee of US$15,000 from the principal and each included family member. When payment settles, USCIS prompts Form I-140G, called "Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program." The next stage is vetting; only after successful vetting may officials request a separate US$1 million gift for each applicant. It currently proceeds through EB-1 or EB-2, not EB-5; the executive order only directs officials to consider a possible future EB-5 expansion. EB-5 instead requires capital at risk—US$1,050,000 generally or US$800,000 where a project qualifies under targeted-area or infrastructure rules—and ten qualifying full-time jobs. Build separate budgets for net proceeds, professional advice, taxes, liquidity, and route-specific commitments; do not quote filing fees. Recheck the official directions immediately before payment.
Hypothetical example: A cheese-processing business owner near Strathroy-Caradoc expects sale proceeds sufficient for either route. Her comparison distinguishes a nonreturnable government gift from commercial capital exposed to project risk and employment requirements. She tests classification and family inclusion for Gold Card, then evaluates source, path, project, and job evidence for EB-5. A smaller total cannot decide which framework fits, and no money moves while instructions remain uncertain.