The US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) proposed an immigration bill that will benefit foreign workers there including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Under the proposed bill, all foreign workers who have been working and living legally in Saipan for at least five consecutive years could be granted a permanent residency visa.

However, the local officials in Saipan said that applicants for a permanent residency visa needs to undergo criminal and terrorism background check and medical examination. Applicant must also prove that he/she is of good moral standing and has no criminal records or public charges. This means that not all foreign workers who have been legally working in Saipan for five years or more would be eligible for permanent residency.

The following conditions are required because the CNMI Office of the Governor is worried that the granting of permanent status might encourage foreign workers to leave CNMI and transfer in other U.S. jurisdictions. If this happens, the local economy of CNMI will suffer.

There are options available for those who do not meet the five-year requirement. They can work under the CNMI-only guest worker program or the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act’s provisions for foreign workers.