Rabby Syed, United Workers Movement president, said the proposed $55 increase — $360 from $305 — for an advance parole is “too high” for CNMI guest workers especially in these hard economic times.
Instead of raising the fees, he said the federal government should waive the advance parole requirement for nonresidents who have to go on “emergency travel” such as medical referrals or other humanitarian concerns.
The advance parole is required for nonresidents who are going to a foreign country so they can return to CNMI under the same immigration status.
“At the very least, we are asking them to maintain the status quo,” Syed said.
On June 26, his group will initiate a forum at American Memorial Park to discuss labor issues, the Department of the Interior’s improved status recommendation and the proposed USCIS fee increases.
Syed is urging guest workers, businessmen and other sectors of the community to attend the forum.
“We don’t intend to disobey any law of the CNMI. We just want to know which law to follow,” he said, as he also urged the Department of Homeland Security to issue its official interpretation on the local labor law, P.L. 17-1, and the revised labor regulations.
