Alexander Y. Hartman, immigration policy advisor of the Office of Policy Development, said in the meantime, foreign workers can still leave the islands and return under the same status by applying for an “advance parole” with the U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services.
Last week, Friedman ordered DHS to publish emergency regulations or rerun the interim final regulations by applying the time allotted for public comments before they are adopted.
Hartman said: “One option is to go through the emergency [regulations] route. We’re still considering if we want to go through that route. Another option is to reissue the proposed rules and start the process from scratch. We haven’t decided yet which route to take.”
He said the USCIS, which opened its first office on Saipan in March, will process applications for an advance parole on a case-by-case basis.
Hartman said guest workers wishing to leave the islands for whatever reasons should make an appointment with the USCIS and apply for advance parole.
If their application is approved, a document or paper will be issued to the parolee detailing specifics about his/her immigration status and that he/she is allowed to return to the CNMI on a certain date.
“Advance parole is like an advance permission to travel,” Hartman said.
DHS will post guidelines on its Web site regarding advance parole.
U.S. immigration law took effect in the CNMI on Saturday, ending 33 years of local control that allowed the islands to bring in thousands of guest workers paid below the federal minimum wage rate.
