- Bridge Preparatory Charter School was linked to E-2 treaty investors, not a documented EB-5 transfer.
- EB-5 requires a qualifying investment that creates 10 full-time jobs and can lead to permanent residence.
- A federal filing on August 10, 2026 explained EB-5 rules; it did not confirm school financing.
Bridge Preparatory Charter School in Staten Island was tied to foreign investors using the E-2 treaty investor visa, not a documented EB-5 transaction. The distinction changes how the school’s reported investor connection should be described.
The school-specific account identifies foreign nationals investing in and operating a U.S. business through the E-2 classification. It does not establish that Bridge Preparatory received money through the EB-5 immigrant-investor visa program.
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A federal court filing dated August 10, 2026, discusses EB-5 in Liu v. Noem. The filing explains the program’s structure, rather than announcing financing for the school.
EB-5 can connect investment capital with job-creating projects. That framework is separate from the E-2 account involving Bridge Preparatory.
EB-5 routes investment through job creation
Congress established EB-5 through the Immigration Act of 1990. The program permits foreign nationals to seek lawful permanent residence by investing in projects that benefit the U.S. economy and create 10 full-time jobs.
Earlier EB-5 investments required at least $500,000. The program now sets higher minimums, depending on the project.
Regional centers can direct investor funds toward projects designed to create jobs. That structure has also been used in school-related financing arrangements. The framework, however, does not by itself show that the Staten Island school used EB-5 capital.
The program is administered by the Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The court filing describes those agency roles alongside the investment and job-creation requirements.
EB-5 and E-2 impose different investment tests
The two classifications serve different purposes and apply different financial rules.
| Program | Investment rule | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|
| EB-5 | $1,050,000 generally | Investment must support a qualifying job-creating project |
| EB-5 in a targeted employment area or infrastructure project | $800,000 | The lower threshold applies to qualifying projects |
| Earlier EB-5 investments | $500,000 minimum | The figure applied at the time of earlier investments |
| E-2 | No statutory minimum investment | The investor must be a national of a country with a qualifying treaty with the United States |
E-2 applicants invest in and operate a U.S. business. The classification is limited to nationals of countries that maintain a qualifying treaty with the United States.
The school-specific account places Bridge Preparatory within that E-2 description. It does not provide a documented EB-5 capital amount for the school.
E-2 applicants use different filing routes and fee schedules
E-2 cases can proceed through a U.S. consulate or through USCIS. Consular applicants often use Form DS-160, while people seeking a change or extension of status use Form I-129.
The E visa application fee is $315. USCIS charges vary according to the employer’s size and nonprofit status.
| Filing category | Base filing fee | Asylum Program Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Larger employers | $1,015 | $600 |
| Employers with 25 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees | $510 | $300 |
| Nonprofits | Not listed | $0 |
Optional premium processing costs $2,965. These are E-2 filing expenses, not amounts invested in Bridge Preparatory.
Malliotakis’ August post involved a restaurant owner
A congressional constituent-services post dated August 26, 2026, described Representative Nicole Malliotakis helping a Staten Island restaurant owner renew her E-2 visa.
The post said the classification “allows eligible foreign nationals to invest in and operate her small business.” It concerned the restaurant owner’s immigration matter, not the charter school’s financing.
The post shows E-2 activity on Staten Island in late August. It does not identify investors connected to Bridge Preparatory or establish a dollar amount invested in the school.
The court filing defines EB-5 without announcing school financing
The Liu v. Noem filing supplies the federal framework for EB-5, including its investment thresholds, job requirement and agency administration. It does not turn the school’s reported E-2 connection into an EB-5 transaction.
Bridge Preparatory’s investor link and the EB-5 program therefore remain separate parts of the record. The school account concerns E-2, while the court filing describes a pathway to lawful permanent residence through qualifying job-creating investment.
