Without a parole in place after Nov. 27, she will be out of status.
Navat, 79, who has never married while working in the CNMI because she’s the breadwinner of her family, said she’s still hoping the U.S. government will give her and others like her improved immigration status.
Yesterday, using her walking aid, Navat attended the free workshop conducted by the Micronesian Legal Services Corp. at the American Memorial Park auditorium.
A similar workshop for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens was held on Oct. 17 at the same venue, drawing hundreds of participants. A separate workshop was also conducted for IR’s of Freely Associated States.
Jane Mack, MLSC directing attorney, said CNMI permanent residents belong to one of the three groups of nonresidents that have a “good chance” of getting a parole in place.
The other groups are the immediate relatives of citizens of the Freely Associated States and those born in the CNMI between Jan. 1, 1974 and Jan. 9, 1978.
“You have this written policy in the adjudicator manual that already says that they are looking at this favorably,” Mack told the nine people attending the workshop yesterday which was for CNMI permanent residents and those born in the Northern Marianas between Jan. 1, 1974 and Jan. 9, 1978.
There were over 400 individuals given CNMI permanent residency by the local government prior to 1982.
Mack said they checked with the NMI Archives but the office had no list of the names of these individuals.
Linda Wingenbach, MLSC staff attorney, said the CNMI permanent resident group is in a different situation compared to those who are immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.
“The decision for a parole in place for CNMI permanent residents is going to be easier for [U.S.] immigration to make than the decision for people who are IR’s of FAS citizens,” she said.
Mack said she is “completely convinced” that CNMI permanent residents should be granted U.S. citizenship rather than parole in place, “but there’s no mechanism right now for that in the law.”
Mack repeatedly stated that parole in place is granted for humanitarian reasons, but is discretionary and temporary.
Parole in place is needed by CNMI permanent residents because their lawful status is ending; they have a desire to stay here; they have no other status readily available; and they have good reasons for being permitted to stay, she said.
Parole in place, however, does not authorize CNMI permanent residents to work, she added.
MLSC provided the workshop participants with a prepared letter they can use when requesting for parole in place.
Wingenbach said CNMI permanent residents may probably get a two-year parole in place which is the longest parole that can be awarded.
Mack said “family unity” doesn’t count a lot when applying for parole in place.
In the application form, she said, it is important provide all the supporting documents.
“If you have medical issues [and are being treated here], you may want to include that, because they’re going to add that as a weighty factor in your favor,” she added.
“If you have education that brings skills to the commonwealth that will also count in your favor. If you have children or grandchildren that you are taking care of that have medical issues or education issues, that may also count in your favor,” she said.
