The official page expressly makes the $15,000 DHS processing fee nonrefundable and describes the later $1 million individual contribution as a gift, not an investment. It does not publish a separate promise that the gift is refundable, so confirm the current payment and refund terms directly before transferring anything.
Establish in writing what happens if the answer is no
Confirm from current official instructions what is paid at each stage and what happens to each payment if the process does not continue. The nonrefundable processing fee is separate from the post-vetting gift, and State Department, medical and professional charges may also apply. Do not infer a refund rule from an intermediary’s reassurance or from EB-5, because the Gold Card gift is not EB-5 investment capital. Re-verify every amount, recipient and payment term on the official site immediately before money moves.
A responsible cost comparison distinguishes a gift payment, a processing charge, professional assistance, document collection, and any later immigration expenses. None should be presented as an equity purchase or as money recoverable from an operating venture. The official framing matters: Gold Card involves a payment from the applicant to the U.S. government and is not a conventional visa. Hypothetical example: A modular-kitchen exporter compares the program with buying shares in a U.S. distributor. The owner must decide whether a nonrecoverable government payment or a commercial investment serves the actual business goal.