Contributions from relatives are possible but change the evidence required: a gift needs documentation of the giver's own lawful source of funds and the gift itself, while a loan raises separate questions about security and repayment. The petitioning investor remains the person whose case is assessed, with a spouse and unmarried children under 21 as derivatives.
Decide the funding mix before the wire
Settle who is contributing what, and in what legal form, before any money moves — restructuring afterwards is far harder to document. If a parent is gifting, gather their bank and tax records early rather than assuming a short letter will suffice. Note that family members contributing capital do not gain immigration status through the contribution, and that a pending petition gives no one in the household work or travel authorization.
Settle the funding mix in writing before any transfer, naming each contributor, the amount, and whether it is a gift or a loan. A gift requires evidence of the giver's own lawful source of funds as well as of the gift itself; a loan raises separate questions about security and repayment. Restructuring afterwards is far harder to document than deciding correctly at the outset.
The petitioning investor remains the person whose case is assessed, with a spouse and unmarried children under twenty-one as derivatives, and a relative who contributes capital gains no status from the contribution. Track each child's age against the expected timeline, and remember that a pending petition confers no work or travel authorisation on anyone.