Eight foreign students interviewed by this reporter said they are not willing to “take the risk.”
“It’s risky,” a foreign student of Northern Marianas College said.
She said the CNMI Department of Commerce has not issued any statement about allowing foreign students to work, “therefore [working] might be illegal.”
Commerce has advised foreign students “not to engage in any work-like activities, including internship programs with pay.”
Another foreign student with International Business and Professional College said she will not “risk it.”
“Commerce might revoke my umbrella permit if I apply for a job. We need to hear from [the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] — they’re the ones who should clarify this,” she added.
She said “applying for a [U.S. student] visa is difficult and expensive, and that’s why I won’t risk losing my umbrella permit.”
Another foreign student who drives a taxi said he believes Brown.
“It is better if they allow [foreign students] to work,” he said. “That’s what they do in the U.S.”
But he said Commerce should also explain to foreign students if they are really allowed to work.
A guest worker, who also declined to be identified, said: How can we get another job when we’re lucky to hold onto the one we have right now. They can say whatever they want to say, but there are no extra jobs out there!”
Commerce had yet to respond to Variety’s e-mail.
