House Joint Resolution 17-26 is requesting the federal government to have an alternate visa program for qualified E-2 CNMI-only investor recipients and their dependents.
E-2 CNMI-only investor status, which expires on Dec. 31, 2014, allows investors who have been in the CNMI for many years, to stay in the commonwealth during the transition period.
Sablan, R-Saipan, said it is going to be detrimental not only for the investors themselves but also for the CNMI economy once they are stranded outside the commonwealth when they have to leave for a business-related trip.
According to his resolution, the U.S. State Department should grant these investors an alternate visa program so they can leave the CNMI and still return to continue to do business here.
He also wants the State Department to allow the E-2 investors’ dependents to travel freely as well.
Sablan said although these long-term investors and their dependents have been accommodated by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, they are only allowed to remain in the CNMI.
The lengthy visa processing period varies and may sometimes take up to 90 days. This, he said, “hampers their capability” to go on business-related travel.
