Read the general immigrant investor briefing overview
A company-wide funding summary can conceal who contributes money and what rights it creates. Identify the principal applicant and the purpose of each amount before comparing EB-5 with Gold Card.
Reconcile the individual EB-5 investment
The September 2026 capital levels are US$1,050,000 or a qualifying US$800,000 targeted employment area or infrastructure case, with statutory adjustments beginning January 1, 2027 under filing-date rules. Show the investor’s lawful source and path, committed capital at risk, management or policy participation and at least ten qualifying permanent full-time jobs under the applicable framework. Other owners’ funds cannot simply be assigned to this investor. Contractual repayment rights and guaranteed rates of return are excluded from capital. An enterprise-only discretionary buyback has a statutory exception, but exercise requires petition withdrawal unless sustainment and other applicable requirements have been fulfilled.
List Gold Card applicants before calculating the payment
A nonrefundable US$15,000 processing fee applies per person. After successful vetting and official instructions, the gift is US$1 million for an individual principal or US$2 million per corporate-sponsored employee. Each eligible joining spouse or unmarried child under 21 adds US$15,000 and US$1 million, including corporate cases; initial inclusion is recommended. Corporate terms add 1% annual maintenance and a 5% transfer charge with a new background check. Conditional reuse of a gift does not approve a replacement employee. The gift is not EB-5 capital or a promised commercial return.
Do not use either receipt as a residence record
EB-5 conditional residence begins at immigrant admission or adjustment approval; I-829 ordinarily belongs in the 90 days before its second anniversary. Filing does not itself remove conditions or trigger capital repayment. Eligible derivatives do not require separate principal investments merely to accompany. Gold Card remains subject to EB-1 or EB-2 eligibility, admissibility and visa availability. Read the actual instructions and decision evidence before relying on a household move date; neither framework guarantees the outcome.
What else is on your mind?
Does an EB-5 immigration review tell me whether an investment is good?Is the Gold Card another name for EB-5?Should I assume one Gold Card payment covers my family?Editorial source review: 2026-09-08. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.