“It is important to know that I have been assured by the appropriate officials of DHS that they will come here and meet with stakeholders, especially the employers,” he said.
Sablan said the application process is going to be done online and those who have questions will have to find someone to help them. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services can help but applicants have to make an appointment withits Saipan office.
Sablan disclosed that the workers regulation has been reviewed already by the White House, transmitted to DHS and is on its way to publication. (For more information, go to http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201104&RIN=1615-AB76)
However, he added, there are still some internal steps that the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and DHS must perform before the rules are published.
Right now, he said, “I’m sure they are dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.”
“But it is on its way to publication. It will be published soon,” Sablan added.
Once its representatives arrive here, DHS will be ready to receive applications from employers and will work together with stakeholders to make sure things will run as smoothly as possible, Sablan said.
Noting that the CNMI umbrella permit provided by the Fitial administration to nonresidents expire on Nov. 28, Sablan said he was assured that DHS will provide all the necessary resources to process applications for the new CW-1 visa for foreign workers.
“They [DHS] have something in place…to address the short time between now and Nov. 28.They will have to make sure that there will be as little disruption as possible,” Sablan said.
“I am grateful it is finally moving forward,” he added.
In a separate interview, Rabby Syed, president of United Workers Movement, said he understands that the regulation is for those who are already employed.
Syed said because of the economic hardship, many guest workers are unemployed and can’t find new jobs.
That is why his group, Syed said, is begging the U.S. Congress to grant improved immigration status to all qualified, long-term nonresidents in the CNMI.
