Use the actual net funds and entitlement after relevant obligations, not simply the headline price.
Reconcile the contribution and costs
Keep government, professional and transaction charges separately visible. The required capital analysis must reflect what is actually committed. As checked September 7, 2026, capital generally is US$1,050,000, or US$800,000 for a qualifying targeted employment area or infrastructure case. Statutory adjustments begin January 1, 2027; confirm the filing-date amount.
Money paid to lawyers, to a sponsor as an administrative or subscription fee, or to USCIS as a filing fee leaves the investor's hands but never enters the enterprise as capital, so it must be funded separately and on top. Project fees: a regional-center offering usually charges an administrative fee on top of the capital, which is not invested and not refundable; read the subscription agreement to see what happens to it if the petition is denied. Model the two commitments together over several years, including government filing fees, legal and translation costs, medical examinations and consular processing for each family member. Request the fee schedule as a document rather than as a figure quoted in conversation, and check whether it names anything payable later: annual administration, transfer charges, or costs deducted from a distribution.