The current official FAQ says a spouse and unmarried children under twenty-one should be included in the initial application, and each family member is subject to an additional $15,000 DHS processing fee and $1 million gift. These terms must be verified again on the official site before any application or payment.
Ask about the household before asking about the applicant
The current official Gold Card FAQ states that a spouse and unmarried children under twenty-one should be included in the initial application to receive the program's benefits. It also states that each family member requires an additional $15,000 DHS processing fee and $1 million gift. That is not the same as an ordinary derivative filing under another employment-based category. For a family with a child approaching twenty-one, counsel should confirm the person's eligibility and the filing sequence under the current terms. Save the official FAQ as read that day and re-check it immediately before any application or payment.
Do not assume a family benefit merely because one applicant can meet a payment requirement. Start by listing each person's relationship, age, passport, current status, and the official rule that would include or exclude them. Gold Card terms should be checked at the time of action: the program describes a payment by the applicant to the U.S. government, not a business investment or a conventional visa category. Hypothetical example: An antique-map dealer plans for an adult child to move at the same time. The family needs a separate eligibility analysis for that child before treating the payment as a household solution.