Proposed Permanent Residence In The C.N.M.I.
An immigration bill which will be of benefit to foreign workers in the United States Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) was proposed recently by the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
The bill proposes to grant permanent residency to all foreign workers who have been working and living legally in CNMI continously for five years or more.
To be eligible, the local officials of the Northern Mariana Islands had said applicants must prove that they have no criminal records and have maintained a good standing in their community. Each applicant for permanent residency shall also undergo background checks for criminal or terrorism records and must also pass a medical examination. This means that not all foreign worker applicant would be accepted in the list of becoming a permanent resident even though they have satisfied the five year residency requirement.
The mandatory five year residency condition was set by the local government of CNMI so that would be successful permanent residents will have established roots in the Islands. This is necessary because they are worried that once granted the permanent resident visa too early might encourage the foreign worker to leave CNMI for other U.S. jurisdiction which will leave the local economy to suffer.
For those who do not meet the five year residency requirement but are already legally working in the Islands, a CNMI-only guest worker program or the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act’s provisions for foreign workers, was presented as an option so they can legally stay or work in the CNMI.
More info:
http://www.doi.gov/oia/press/2007/02082007.html
http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=3&newsID=71677
http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=70542
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