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OSLER · GOLD CARD FIELD GUIDE

What should I do when two summaries conflict?

Sources checked:

THE DIRECT ANSWER

Compare them with the complete official records and obtain appropriate clarification. Preserve the actual notice rather than choosing the more convenient summary.

Keep the source visible

An adviser’s paraphrase should not be presented as a government decision.

A dated copy of the official program page and FAQ relied on, the account or confirmation records for each payment, the vetting correspondence, the employee's admissibility and category documents, and a written internal record of who decided what and on which terms. Gather identity and family documentation and a clear statement of the specific circumstances involved, then check them against the current official instructions rather than an informally described version of the requirements. Identity and travel documents, a complete personal history sufficient for background vetting, evidence of the lawful source of the funds to be gifted, and a preliminary assessment of EB-1 or EB-2 eligibility. Build a short chronology from documents, with a date and a source beside each entry: the sponsorship agreement, any filing receipt or notice, the vetting outcome if one was issued, the payment confirmation, and the notice of termination. Keep the application and fee confirmations, the instructions received, everything submitted through the official portal, records of the gift when instructed, and any correspondence about maintenance or transfer, together with the internal approval that authorised the spending.