Use the actual programme instructions and per-person charges. Do not assume a payment transfers or covers someone it was not assigned to.
Reconcile receipts with the applicant list
Each eligible spouse or unmarried child under 21 adds the published US$1 million gift and US$15,000 processing fee. Track already-paid fees separately from later gift instructions to avoid a misleading balance.
Whether the program charges an additional amount per family member, and how it treats children who are close to 21, are questions the official FAQ addresses and which should be read at the time of application rather than assumed from summaries. Build a payment ledger that records each processing fee, proposed gift, payer, official instruction date and any stated corporate maintenance or transfer condition. If an employer is sponsoring instead, corporate terms differ and have their own maintenance and transfer charges that a qualified adviser should review against current published terms. Retain the official fee description, payment recipient confirmation, bank transfer evidence, invoices or receipts, and documentation of the lawful source of the applicant’s money. Keep commercial advice, optional document work, government charges, and the required payment in separate categories so a later question can be answered from records. Budget housing, ordinary living costs and any additional official charges separately rather than assuming the gift will finance later personal expenses.