He said the CW rule that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued on Sept. 7 states that a worker with CW status should secure a CW visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of origin to be able to return to the CNMI.
Syed said the CW rule is causing “very big problems” for workers on vacation because they might not be able to return to the CNMI if their CW visa application is denied.
Furthermore, some workers stay in provinces far from the capital city where the U.S. Embassy is usually located, he added.
In an emergency situation, what would be the guarantee that a worker with CW status can get CW visa in a short period of time, Syed asked, adding that a worker’s vacation time might be spent on getting a CW visa application.
“I am [also] requesting the State Department to consider giving travel documents to workers with CW status similar to the advance parole or any mechanism that they can find to make the travel convenient,” he said.
After meeting with small-scale foreign businesspersons, Syed said they also identified other concerns that need immediate consideration by the Department of Homeland Security.
He said small businesspersons who will apply for an investor’s visa are asking if they can be allowed to process the CW applications of their workers at the same time.
It will affect not only their businesses, but even the economy of the island if they have to wait until the approval of their investor’s visa before they can process the CW applications for their workers, Syed said.
At the same time he reminded immediate relatives of Freely Associated State citizens to ask for their parole in place and work authorization before Nov. 27.
He also asked immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who will apply for a green card to verify their status with USCIS.
When he travels to the U.S. on Sept. 30, Syed said he will bring a letter urging President Obama to use his administrative authority and grant long-term guest workers parole-in-place.
Syed said he will also ask U.S. Congress to act on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s April 2010 report which recommended improved status for foreign workers who have been legally in the CNMI for at least five years.
