By Haidee V. Eugenio
Variety Assistant Editor

EASING entry requirements for foreign elementary and high school students to study in the CNMI is now a permanent part of local immigration regulations, after its emergency adoption in July was not met with comments or criticisms.
Section 706 (H) of the CNMI Immigration Regulations makes the eligibility requirements for young students from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and other comity countries less onerous, thereby allowing them to pursue their studies in an English-speaking country or territory like the CNMI without having to travel as far as mainland U.S. or Hawaii.
Attorney General Matthew T. Gregory, in a notice, said the amendments to Section 706 (H) of the Immigration Regulations, titled “Foreign Student Entry Permits” have been adopted without modification.
The new regulations waive the $20,000 cash bond requirement for foreign students coming from countries that are exempt from the visitor entry requirement.
The VEP-exempt countries include Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Morino, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Instead, the guardian must submit a sworn affidavit detailing the living arrangements for the student and explaining how all costs of living, potential medical costs, as well as tuition and related educational expenses, will be met.
An applicant may apply for a “student authorization for entry” that will allow the applicant to travel to and enter the CNMI temporarily to enroll in an approved educational institution.
Applicants may apply for a foreign student entry permit prior to formal enrollment with an approved institution, but the permit will not be issued until proof of enrollment is received and verified by the Division of Immigration of the Attorney General’s Office.
This permit is valid for no more than one year and is renewable if the applicant continues to meet all conditions of the original issuance.
Those having foreign student entry permits are not authorized to work in the CNMI, except that students may participate in on-campus work/study programs intended to defray the cost of tuition and/or living expenses.