The official page does not promise a fixed timeline. Vetting, the underlying employment-based petition and visa availability all affect timing, so treat any date quoted by an intermediary as unverified until the official process confirms it.
No official timeline, so plan on the process, not a promise
Hypothetical example: an intermediary tells the couple they will have cards within weeks. The official framework describes an application with a nonrefundable processing fee, vetting, and a gift requested after successful vetting, followed by EB-1 or EB-2 processing subject to visa availability; none of that guarantees a fixed date. The vetting stage has no published duration, the petition stage follows USCIS processing, and visa availability depends on the category and the applicant's chargeability. Do not sell property, give notice or move money on the strength of a quoted timeline. Re-verify the official terms before each step, because the program's procedures may change. Keep the gift and fee decision until the couple has read the current official page, confirmed the family terms and understood which category their residence would flow through.
Hypothetical example: a veterinary pathologist plans a home sale around an asserted six-month Gold Card timetable. First save the dated official materials, then separate payment, vetting, any underlying immigrant step, visa availability, and travel planning into distinct stages. The official process, not a consultant's estimate, settles whether a duration has been published. Decide which personal commitments can wait and which need a backup plan if processing takes longer. Do not sell housing or resign from work solely because a payment has been accepted. Review the official instructions again immediately before payment and keep proof of what the applicant paid, when, and through which authorized channel.