Separate the current official charges: the individual gift, the nonrefundable DHS processing fee, possible State Department visa and medical-examination fees, and the additional gift and processing fee for each included family member. Treat any intermediary charge as a separate private contract, and re-verify every amount before paying.
Compare outcomes for money, not headline prices
Hypothetical example: the couple are shown a single figure and a competitor's figure and asked to choose. Break out every component. Under the current official FAQ, an individual application requires a $1 million gift and a nonrefundable $15,000 DHS processing fee; State Department visa fees and a medical-examination cost may also apply.
Each spouse or unmarried child under 21 included in the initial application currently requires another $15,000 processing fee and $1 million gift. An intermediary's charge is separate and private. Then compare what the household receives and what obligations continue.
An investment route ties up capital that may be lost or returned; a work route requires an employer and qualifying facts. Re-verify all official terms and payment instructions immediately before any transfer.