Identify the qualifying family relationships

Eligible derivative family members generally include the investor’s spouse and unmarried children under 21, subject to the applicable legal definitions and age-protection rules. Each person must satisfy their own relevant immigration requirements. The program is not a general route for parents, adult married children or siblings to join the same investment case.

Have counsel verify each relationship and the supporting records. The State Department glossary explains important terms, including derivative status and the Child Status Protection Act.

Raise age questions before choosing a timeline

If a child is approaching 21, tell the attorney at the outset. Age protection under the Child Status Protection Act is technical and may involve several dates and actions. A quick assurance that the child is “locked in” is not enough without a case-specific explanation.

Ask counsel to document the analysis, identify the events being tracked and explain what the family must do when a visa becomes available. Do not use an online age calculation as your only basis for an investment or filing decision.

Build a person-by-person processing plan

Family members may be living in different countries or holding different US statuses. Some may need different appointments or a later joining process. Identify which person is using which route and what documents are needed before scheduling the move.

Keep an organized relationship and identity record for counsel, and discuss individual travel or admissibility concerns early. A principal investor’s petition approval does not mean every dependent’s remaining steps have been completed.

Budget beyond the single investment

A qualifying investor’s eligible derivative family can be part of the immigration plan without each making a separate qualifying investment. However, legal work, government processing, medical examinations and relocation costs can grow with family size.

Ask for a fee schedule that separates principal-investor costs from family-member costs. Include health coverage, housing, school transitions and a reserve for delays in your practical budget. Our cost guide explains how to keep that reserve outside the investment.

Make the consultation about your actual family

Describe your family members’ ages, where they live, their work or study plans and the timing you hope to achieve. You can provide a general summary first; sensitive documents belong in counsel’s appropriate secure process.

  • Does every intended family member qualify as a derivative?
  • Which child-age deadlines or calculations need attention?
  • Can the family move together, or should the move be staged?
  • What filings and responsibilities follow conditional residence?

Our Canadian team screens initial enquiries and helps arrange the relevant investment introduction. Your attorney confirms family eligibility and manages immigration strategy. Learn about the broader route on US Green Card for Canadians.