Skip to content
OSLER · GOLD CARD FIELD GUIDE

Can a private checklist replace the official request?

Sources checked:

THE DIRECT ANSWER

No. It may help organize tasks, but the actual official instruction and case conditions govern what must be addressed.

Resolve the difference

Do not treat a simplified heading as authority to skip a requested step.

Bring the current official instructions and the applicant's own circumstances to an individualized review, and distinguish promotional summaries from the actual evidence the filing process requires. Do not treat the parent’s financial resources as proof of the child’s eligibility or assume that a private promise is a completed government step. The official FAQ retains ordinary eligibility for permanent residence, admissibility, and EB-1 or EB-2 visa availability as conditions; the gift is part of the described process rather than a substitute for those legal requirements. The first review should produce a dated checklist of the official program terms, the applicant’s identity and source records, and the immigration category or procedure the materials identify. Disclose the requested citizenship and identity information accurately and review visa availability for the actual case rather than assuming residence or a second passport changes the queue. Counsel should review the actual petition and priority date before withdrawal, while the household separately verifies the official Gold Card terms and payment instructions immediately before acting.