“We’ve been tasked to prepare all permits for everyone who is lawful in the CNMI regardless of their status,” acting Labor Director Barry Hirshbein yesterday said.
He said the Department of Labor will prepare the foreign student, foreign investor, retiree investor and long-term business permits for the Department of Commerce.
He estimated that 2,000 IRs of U.S. citizens in the CNMI will receive the umbrella permit.
The Department of Commerce will later provide the number of foreign students, investors and businesses that will get the permit.
In a press conference yesterday, part-time Labor Hearing Office Dianne Siemer reiterated that those on the overstayers list cannot get the umbrella permit, but they can request for a waiver from the Division of Immigration.
She said those who are not in any labor category and not on the overstayers list can also file a request letter with the Labor Administrative Hearing Office.
“The governor’s concern is that for the family unit with minor children to stay together,” she said.
Hirshbein said next week, they will start issuing the umbrella permit for the IRs and workers who are under process for extension but have not received their entry permits.
Yesterday, Labor issued umbrella permits to guest workers whose family names start with E, F G H, or I.
The issuance of permits for those whose surnames start with C and D was reschedule for Nov. 6 because of the bad weather last Tuesday.
Hirshbein said only less than 50 guest workers have “minor problems” — either they had no picture or receipt for their entry permit.
He noted that applications for temporary work authorizations are almost non-existence and are only given to guest workers with pending labor cases.
“We have few pending labor cases now,” he said, in an interview.
The following is the schedule for the umbrella permit distribution:
For 240K permit (foreign workers)
Group 0 Transfer extensions — each Tuesday at the Administrative Hearing Office for pending request
Group 1 Valid permit holders — Alphabetical schedule through Nov. 6
Group II Pending application — (applications, deficiencies, denials) Nov. 10, 12, 13 at the Labor building, 1st floor.
Group III Pending cases — Nov. 2, 3 at the Administrative Hearing Office
Group IV Other requests (person not on any category and not on the overstayer list) — Can file a request letter at the Administrative Hearing Office with Dennis Cabrera by any Friday. Permits issued on following Tuesday
Group V Overstayers — Can file a request for waiver with the Immigration Division
240L permit (ministers) — Nov. 5, 6, Labor
240M permit (missionaries) — Nov. 5, 6, Labor office
240G permit (foreign investors) — Nov. 5, 6, Department of Commerce
240H permit (foreign students) — Nov. 9, 10, Department of Commerce
240N permit (long-term business) — Nov. 5, 6, Department of Commerce
240O permit (retiree investors) — Nov. 5, 6, Department of Commerce
240D permit (IRs of U.S. citizens) Group I with valid permit — Nov. 10, 12, 13, Labor
Group II No current permit — Nov. 10,12, Labor
240E permit (IR of aliens) Group I with valid permit — Nov. 10, 12. 13, Labor
Group II No current permit — Nov. 12, 13 can file request at Administrative Hearing Office
Siemer said a team from Labor will be on Rota and Tinian on the date that will be announced by the department’s resident directors there.
Labor will charge $40 in replacing a lost umbrella permit.
