The official program describes the processing fee as nonrefundable. Keep that charge distinct from later government-gift questions and separately contracted professional services. Current published amounts are US$15,000 nonrefundable processing per person, then a US$1 million individual principal or US$2 million corporate principal gift after successful vetting. Each eligible joining family member adds US$15,000 and US$1 million, including corporately.
Read each payment’s own terms
Use the official receipt and current program instructions to identify what was paid. Review private agreements for their own scope and cancellation terms without assuming they control government funds. Do not describe the gift as an EB-5 investment or promise repayment or return. Verify published current charges directly instead of relying on an old quote when deciding whether to proceed. Corporate terms describe 1% annual maintenance and a 5% transfer fee including a new DHS background check. Reuse of a prior corporate principal gift under the official process is not automatic approval of a replacement employee. Additional State Department and medical costs may apply; verify current instructions for the actual proposal.
The first review should produce a ledger separating commercial spending, government charges, professional services, deposits, refund rights and household expense. It shows what every payment buys and prevents a large amount from being mistaken for proof of eligibility.
Hypothetical example: A low-orbit materials-testing entrepreneur is offered a transaction with refundable and nonrefundable amounts. The applicant must decide what each payment actually does and what exposure it creates instead of combining all amounts.
Gold Card is not a conventional visa classification; the applicant pays the required gift directly to the U.S. government, and the payment is not a commercial investment. Sequence the next step only after the controlling record is available. A rushed filing often fails because an undefined commercial fact, mismatched document or unauthorized activity remains hidden until review. Keep the decision, the record and the resulting action together in the file.