IN THIS GUIDE · Clarify a proposed corporate sponsorship before relying on the employer's offer
Understand the government-described sequence
The official framework describes a nonrefundable processing fee, vetting and a gift to the U.S. government after successful vetting. Successful cases proceed through EB-1 or EB-2; classification eligibility, admissibility and visa availability remain separate requirements. The gift is not a payment into an EB-5 enterprise and is not capital offered with a commercial return. Confirm the current individual or corporate instructions for the actual proposal. Confirm the official sequence, including vetting, the processing charge, and any gift payment. Keep the classification review separate from the funding conversation.
Identify the sponsor's actual commitment
Ask for a written description of what the company proposes to fund and any employment-related conditions. Keep that agreement separate from government instructions. The employer may promise assistance, but it does not control the immigration decision. Ask whether the employer will pay, advance, or reimburse any amount and what happens if work ends. A benefit description is not a substitute for enforceable terms.
Read the current corporate terms
Use the government's corporate description rather than applying individual-application figures by assumption. Identify questions about the employee, family inclusion and future changes for review. Do not combine selected details from different proposals into an invented package. Use the current government corporate terms for corporate sponsorship. Do not infer family treatment, transferability, or continuing obligations from an individual example.
Keep personal evidence under the applicant's control
Plan how requested identity and other information will be supplied through the appropriate process. Establish who communicates with the adviser and who receives notices. A sponsor's administrative involvement does not remove the need for accurate personal information. Create an applicant-controlled list of identity, family, and classification records. The employer can assist administratively without becoming the source of personal facts.
Plan for changes in the employment relationship
Ask for advice if sponsorship or employment circumstances change. Preserve the agreement and relevant notices. Do not assume a financial contribution can be transferred, refunded or reused on terms other than those governing the actual process. Record job changes, sponsorship amendments, and notices by date. Advice depends on what has actually been submitted or paid, not on an early discussion.
Use the current official financial terms
The official September 7, 2026 terms describe a nonrefundable US$15,000 processing fee per person; the principal gift is US$1 million for an individual or US$2 million under corporate sponsorship. Each eligible joining spouse or child adds US$15,000 plus a US$1 million gift. Gifts follow successful vetting and official instructions. Corporate terms also describe 1% annual maintenance and a 5% transfer charge including a new background check. Confirm the governing conditions and any additional charges; these amounts do not guarantee approval. Budget the government amounts, any continuing corporate terms, professional services, and ordinary immigration charges separately. Payment does not waive classification or admissibility rules.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.