Bank statements showing the accumulation of the savings, the sale or income records that produced them, and the transfer instructions moving the money into escrow, presented as one continuous chain.
Follow each dollar from its origin to the escrow account
Consular officers require the applicant to show possession and control of the funds and that they were obtained lawfully. For a couple who have run a touring business for ten years, the origin is usually a mix of business income, personal savings and perhaps the sale of an asset. Assemble the business tax returns and personal returns for several years, the statements of the accounts in which the savings sat, the closing statement for any asset sold, and the wire confirmations into escrow. Where money passed through several accounts, include each intermediate statement so there are no unexplained jumps. Gifts or inheritances need a letter and the donor’s own evidence. French documents should be accompanied by translations. The goal is a reader can start at the first pay cheque and end at the escrow agent without a gap.
Arrange the evidence in the order money moved: origin, account control, transfer, contractual commitment, and business use. A business plan is most persuasive when it matches leases, invoices, payroll assumptions, and permits already obtained. The file should also identify the investor's treaty nationality and the ownership of the enterprise. Hypothetical example: a craft-chocolate maker funds a U.S. production shop from the sale of Canadian equipment. The bill of sale, deposit record, wire confirmation, equipment invoices, and production lease allow a reviewer to follow the funds without relying on a summary spreadsheet.