The official FAQ recommends initial inclusion of eligible family members who intend to join. Resolve the marriage question early enough to make that decision; do not assume delayed inclusion will be free, accepted automatically or prohibited.
Decide based on the actual current instructions
Record which relationship evidence remains outstanding and whether the principal’s decision depends on travelling together. Ask for case-specific instructions before choosing separate steps. A principal’s application does not give an unmarried partner permission to reside or work, and a private preferred departure date cannot determine the legal relationship.
Resolve family composition before payments, then follow the order. First complete the online application and pay DHS its US$15,000 processing fee, which is nonrefundable. Once the payment has settled, USCIS prompts submission of Form I-140G, officially titled “Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program.” Only then does vetting begin. Only after vetting does the government ask the applicant to give US$1 million to the United States. The process uses EB-1 or EB-2, not EB-5, subject to the relevant immigration requirements. Do not send the gift early or assume a departure date changes spousal eligibility. Before funds move, re-check the latest official instructions.
Hypothetical example: A LaSalle dental-laboratory owner wants to apply now, while a partner awaits a legal opinion about whether their relationship constitutes marriage. Counsel should identify accurate household facts, outstanding evidence, and whether a spouse and unmarried children under 21 should be included initially. The couple should keep travel plans reversible and preserve every official prompt. An unresolved partner question does not grant the partner residence or work permission, and haste cannot reorder payment, petition, vetting, and gift.