Two interim regulations about the CW classification have already been published in the Federal Register.
Some CNMI employers have already begun working on their foreign workers’ transition to the federal H-visa.
There is “confusion,” however, about the CNMI at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ California office.
At least one employer said their Employer Identification Number, also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, which is used to identify a business entity paying federal taxes, was questioned by the USCIS.
The employer said the USCIS also questioned the low wages in the CNMI.
According to the original 19-page Transitional Worker Regulations, the CW classification will end on Dec. 31, 2014.
The employer should mail the CW application for his guest workers to the USCIS office in California.
Processing takes about 60 days.
Only through the CW visa can a guest worker be allowed to work again in the CNMI during the transition period which ends in 2014 unless extended the U.S. Department of Labor.
A CW visa does not entitle its holder to travel anywhere else in the United States and its territories, including Guam.
Approximately more than 14,000 foreign workers are expected to transition to CW status within the coming months.
