Helping EB-5 Stand Out from Other Visa Programs

A new article on the future of EB-5 features JTC’s Jill Jones discussing the unique aspects of EB-5 and why we’ve only begun to tap its full potential.

September 30th, 2027, is an important date in the world of EB-5. That’s when the current version of the Regional Center Program, governed by the rules of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA), loses its authorization. Industry leaders are engaged in raising awareness among Congressional leaders to reauthorize the program, ideally with a permanent version, to allow EB-5 to continue impacting American communities.

But the push for reauthorization has been clouded by discussions surrounding the Gold Card, announced in February 2025 and put into motion through a September executive action. Some have said the Gold Card should replace EB-5, and the worry is that lawmakers, mistakenly believing the two programs to be exactly alike, could allow the Regional Center Program to expire.

In a new article for Bisnow, JTC Head of Specialty Administration and General Counsel USA Jill Jones explains that overcoming misconceptions about EB-5 has been a major hurdle for the industry.

“The challenge that EB-5 has had over and over again is that people lose sight of the benefits that it brings,” says Jones in the article. “What we’re trying to do right now is change the narrative and get people to talk about the ripple effect of these projects.”

EB-5 projects have brought jobs to communities throughout the country over the program’s lengthy history. Unlike the Gold Card, this is a proven program that has spurred economic activity in underserved areas that have traditionally failed to attract this kind of investment. That includes the rural communities and urban high-unemployment areas that were specifically targeted by the RIA.

But, as the article points out, EB-5 has been hampered by slow processing times and the counting of derivatives (spouses and children of applicants) against visa limits. By removing these restrictions, EB-5 could move more quickly and attract even more investment.

“When you think about the jobs it’s creating and the money it’s bringing into these underserved areas, it could be doing exponentially more,” says Jones.

By getting the right messaging out there, the industry hopes to differentiate EB-5 from the Gold Card in the minds of lawmakers, achieve reauthorization, and unburden EB-5 from the restrictions that have kept it from achieving its full potential. As the RIA sunset date approaches, these outreach efforts will become more and more important; look for JTC to be a leading voice for EB-5 and all who benefit from it.

Read the full article from Bisnow