Determine who is actually eligible before multiplying the fees. An unmarried child under 21 may qualify, with any applicable age-protection question assessed on the specific case; an older child may need an independent route. Initial family inclusion is recommended by the program, but it does not override relationship, age or admissibility requirements.
Keep separate eligibility and funding lists
For each person, record citizenship, relationship documents, age and intended immigration role. A child who is already a US citizen does not need an immigrant benefit simply to join the household. Do not treat willingness to pay another US$1 million as a solution to an eligibility issue, or assume a principal’s approval grants every family member status.
Including a child close to the age threshold means paying a nonrefundable fee for someone whose position could depend on timing; leaving the child out carries its own consequence, since joining relatives must be considered in the initial application. A common mistake is treating the framework as a purchase of residence and overlooking an underlying qualification gap, a spouse or child whose eligibility differs, or a professional licence that remains independently necessary. Choices about who joins the case and when are cheapest to make before any file has been built around a particular answer, and the official guidance on initial inclusion is worth reading in its current form rather than as summarised by anyone.