The official terms describe the processing payment as nonrefundable. Treat that commitment separately from the later gift rather than assuming all money is held pending a final decision.
Know which obligation you are accepting
The current principal gift is US$1 million individually or US$2 million corporately after successful vetting and instructions. Budget eligible joining relatives separately and clarify any professional fees rather than interpreting a processing receipt as the full price.
On top come the immigrant-visa fees, medical examination, the USCIS immigrant fee for the card and any professional and translation costs, with government amounts listed on the official schedules. A private repayment clause and the official corporate transfer terms concern different obligations. Under the Gold Card framework, the processing fee is nonrefundable and the gift is transferred to the U.S. government outright; there is no enterprise, no jobs requirement and nothing to recover in any outcome. Corporate terms also describe 1% annual maintenance and a 5% transfer charge with a new background check; replacement approval is not automatic. The first review should also distinguish nonrefundable processing from the instructed gift and from counsel, medical, travel or currency-conversion costs.