A planning reserve can be distinguished from an actual obligation or payment. Current published additions are US$15,000 processing and a US$1 million gift per eligible joining spouse or unmarried child under 21.
Keep the budget and the application record separate
The processing fee is nonrefundable once paid under the official terms. Do not describe reserved household funds as a completed payment or assume that any unused budget is held by the government.
A consultant's drafting invoice is private compensation, not a government payment and not evidence that the response will be accepted. The gift of US$1 million, made after successful vetting, is a gift to the U.S. government; it is not held in escrow, does not earn a return, is not repaid when residence is granted and is not repaid if residence is later lost. A corporate arrangement has published annual and transfer conditions as well; use the actual programme instructions rather than a private promise of interchangeable payments. A consultant’s charge for changing contact information pays for that private service and does not satisfy either official amount. Show any adviser, bank, exchange, or handling charge separately; none reduces, replaces, or becomes a government amount. Put each proposed payment in a ledger identifying the payer, recipient, amount, purpose, refund rule and instruction authorizing it.