The processing fee is paid on application, the gift only after successful vetting, and residence follows immigrant processing in EB-1 or EB-2; no one should relocate or resign on the strength of an application alone.
Fee, vetting, gift, immigrant processing, then residence
The official sequence begins with the application and the nonrefundable processing fee for each person. Vetting follows, and only on success is the gift made. The case is then processed in the applicable employment-based immigrant category, which involves consular immigrant-visa processing for a family in Canada, medical examinations and visa availability. Permanent residence begins on admission with the immigrant visa. None of these stages creates work authorization in the meantime, so the consultant should keep his Canadian practice running and not commit to a U.S. lease or school enrolment until the visas issue. Because the program is new, timelines published for other categories are not a reliable guide, and the family should ask what happens if vetting or the category stage is delayed beyond a child’s 21st birthday. Once resident, extended absences from the United States can jeopardize permanent-resident status.
The prudent sequence is to review the official framework, assemble the vetting records, confirm the applicant and any family participants, and only then arrange the gift payment required after approval. Because this is not a conventional visa, do not borrow assumptions about consular timing or work authorization from TN, L-1, and E-2 categories. Hypothetical example: an archival conservator expects to finish a museum contract before relocating. She keeps the contract calendar separate from the Gold Card process until the official materials identify the decision point and the timing of an applicant-paid gift payment.