The official US$15,000 processing fee per person is nonrefundable; private terms do not alter it.
Keep the full budget distinct
After vetting when instructed, the principal gift is US$1 million individually or US$2 million corporately, with family and corporate additions where applicable. Do not net an uncertain private refund against an official obligation as though it were guaranteed.
Build the budget in chronological columns rather than netting a possible refund against official obligations. First comes the online application with a US$15,000 DHS processing fee that is nonrefundable. USCIS subsequently prompts Form I-140G. Only after vetting does the government ask for a US$1 million contribution, given as a gift to the United States. Keep adviser charges and their private refund rules outside those amounts, and assess any eligible family member separately under current instructions. Gold Card proceeds through EB-1 or EB-2 classification and must not be described as EB-5; the gift purchases no investment interest. Confirm the portal, recipients and amounts again before authorizing any transfer.
Hypothetical example: a biotechnology founder from the Canton of Hatley receives a quote showing one “fully refundable immigration deposit.” She requires the provider to divide its professional charge from the DHS processing payment and prospective government gift. Her cash-flow sheet does not assume the private reimbursement will occur. Before starting, she also tests whether her evidence supports the proposed EB-1 or EB-2 category and whether visa availability affects the plan. She pays nothing labelled as the gift until the post-vetting instruction arrives.