This was what Alex Hartman shared with the public during his presentation on Friday at American Memorial Park.
He said besides the impact on the local tourism industry, educational institutions that cater to foreign students will also be affected by the federalization law, which will take effect on June 1.
Hartman said Homeland Security has two student visa categories — “F” for academic programs and “M” for vocational courses.
“There are visas available…if they are eligible and qualify to obtain them,” he told Variety.
Asked how these visas will be applied to NMC’s current foreign students, Hartman said: “I don’t want to give specifics, but generally, [foreign students] need to apply for these visas so they would be allowed to come here, stay and study.”
NMC instructor Sam McPhetres worried about the impact of the federalization law on the college’s efforts to recruit students from China.
Hartman said “as long as these potential Chinese students” obtain the required student visas “there’s no way they can be denied entry to the CNMI.”
He said there are requirements for each student visa category that must be satisfied by an applicant.
Hartman also noted that the CNMI-Guam visa waiver program — which will exclude Russia and China — is only intended for tourists, and not foreign students.
