Each joining spouse or unmarried child under 21 has an additional US$15,000 processing fee and US$1 million gift under the current official instructions. This applies to families of corporate-sponsored employees too. Include family circumstances in the initial review, because principal eligibility, family eligibility and arrival planning are connected but do not amount to one guaranteed outcome.
Discuss inclusion, age and actual arrival as separate decisions
The official site recommends initial inclusion to obtain the program’s benefits. If a family member may join later, seek current advice about the available process rather than assuming later addition is impossible or free. Review a child approaching 21 promptly without promising an age freeze.
A pending application does not authorize a spouse to work; lawful permanent resident status generally does. Plan employment and schooling around the status and documents actually obtained. Decide the inclusion question explicitly and write down the reasoning, including the amounts involved for each person, so the decision can be revisited if circumstances change.
A spouse who expects to work should understand which status actually carries that permission and when it would begin, since a pending application does not. Where a child is close to the age threshold, ask what the current instructions say about a later addition before assuming the option remains open. Treat schooling and employment arrangements as conditional until the status and documents are actually in hand.