Apply now, keep L-1B extended to the cap, pay the gift only after vetting, and file adjustment of status as soon as the program permits so that a pending application protects her presence if the five years run out before residence is granted.
Start early, stay in status, and know the cap date
Three clocks run together. The L-1B cap arrives in two years and cannot be extended; days spent outside the United States can be recaptured with evidence, which may add time. The official Gold Card FAQ verified September 8, 2026 says the process should take weeks after the application and processing fee are received, assuming the applicant timely attends the visa interview and supplies requested documents, but that statement is not a guarantee of completion by a particular date.
The daughter turns 21 in two years. The sequence that manages all three is to apply promptly, file the L-1B extension before the current period expires so that work continues, pay the gift only after successful vetting, and file the permitted immigrant-visa or adjustment step under the current agency instructions. A properly filed adjustment application allows the family to remain and to seek work and travel documents even if L-1B later expires.
If the immigrant process cannot reach that stage before the cap, consular processing may be necessary. The terms should be re-read immediately before any payment is made.