“We came early and cooked our food here so we can avail of the services they offered,” said Mila who came with her friends, including their children.
Jimmy B., Magic Radio 100.3 DJ, on Thursday encouraged nonresident workers to come to Sandjuvy Restaurant in Oleai where volunteers set up a makeshift office to facilitate the processing of the parole in place applications.
“We only want to help them comply with the requirements for the application for the parole in place,” he said.
Many students whose parents are long-term nonresident workers brought their laptops and volunteered by helping applicants fill out forms and prepare affidavits, he said.
But United Workers Movement vice president Jun Concillado said based on information from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, parole in place is only for CNMI permanent residents; immediate relatives of CNMI permanent residents; spouses and children of deceased CNMI permanent residents; and immediate relatives of citizens of the Freely Associated States: Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.
Most of those who gathered outside Sandjuvy Restaurant are jobless and included overstayers who were granted by Attorney General Edward T. Buckingham conditional umbrella permits.
Jimmy B said it was his own initiative to help nonresidents without the prodding of any guest workers group.
“It is only for humanitarian assistance,” he said, adding that nonresident workers will still file the applications with USCIS.
Concillado noted that those who responded to Jimmy B.’s call are not eligible for parole in place.
“It only shows how anxious they are to have lawful status in the CNMI,” he added.
He said this is why Rabby Syed, the United Workers Movement president, went to Washington, D.C. to ask for improved status for long-term nonresident workers.
