If it is granted, the parolee, or the person who applied for an advance parole, will be admitted back to the CNMI and resume working under the same immigration status when he or she left the islands.
“Under the statute, they are in a parole status,” Gulick said during a press briefing at the USCIS Saipan office. “They can work under their CNMI work permit or the umbrella permit until it expires.”
The advance parole status typically has one year validity and can be used multiple times within that period.
Gulick, however, said the validity may vary on a case-by-case basis.
The USCIS anticipates some foreign workers availing of the advance parole status to spend Christmas with their families back home, including foreign investors who may need to travel overseas for business-related activities.
Gulick said the USCIS would like to receive an advance parole application at least two weeks ahead of the intended departure of the applicant.
But in consideration of the holiday season, Gulick said they would allow a 10-day processing time.
“Right now, 10 working days is a reasonable time for us to get it and get it back to them,” he said.
The advance parole is separate from the parole status applied to incoming tourists from Russia and China.
The USCIS office in Saipan entertains applications for an advance parole.
