Explain the origin and the movement of the money

Think of the evidence as a connected history: how the capital was earned or acquired, how you came to control it and how it reached the investment. A closing bank balance alone may not explain earlier transactions or changes in ownership.

USCIS’s regional-centre petition instructions address lawful-source documentation, gifted and borrowed funds, and parties used to transfer capital. Read the Form I-526E instructions. Your attorney should determine the evidence needed for your actual case; this article is an organizing guide.

If the money comes from a Canadian property sale

Gather the purchase history, evidence of funding used to acquire the property, sale and closing records, mortgage repayment and receipt of net proceeds. A large sale price does not by itself explain the original lawful acquisition or the amount you ultimately received.

Keep the transaction chronology clear. If proceeds move through more than one account or are combined with other savings, retain statements showing those steps. Ask counsel to identify gaps early, while older records can still be requested from lenders, lawyers or financial institutions.

If a company or investment portfolio provides the funds

Distinguish personal money from corporate money. A business valuation does not mean that value is already available for personal investment. A share sale, dividend or other distribution needs its own legal and tax treatment, plus evidence connecting the company’s funds to you.

For portfolio proceeds, retain account ownership records, acquisition history where relevant, sale confirmations and withdrawals. Work with your accountant on the after-tax amount available. An intended distribution that has not yet occurred should be labelled as a planned funding source, not current liquidity.

Gifts and loans require their own explanation

For a gift, expect questions about the donor, the genuine nature of the gift and the donor’s lawful source. For a loan, identify the lender, terms, actual disbursement and the supporting source evidence. The petition instructions require good-faith gifts and loans rather than arrangements designed to circumvent permissible capital rules.

Do not assume borrowed cash is automatically acceptable, or that an arrangement becomes acceptable simply because a promoter offers it. Have independent counsel examine the full structure and your accountant assess the financial exposure before signing.

Prepare securely and avoid unnecessary complexity

Create an inventory of records and account transfers for counsel. Where possible, ask what documentation is needed before moving money through additional intermediaries. A simpler documented path is easier to explain than a series of unplanned transfers.

  • Preserve original transaction records and statements.
  • Keep names, dates and amounts consistent across the chronology.
  • Explain legitimate gaps rather than inventing a missing record.
  • Use the attorney’s agreed secure process for sensitive material.

Our initial consultation needs only a general funding summary. Please do not send passports, account statements or detailed financial records through the website enquiry. Read our Privacy Note and let counsel direct the formal evidence process.