DHS: 42 IRs undergo green card interviews

The Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office on Saipan has seen approximately 660 individuals since it opened last month.

These individuals raised questions about their status and made InfoPass appointments to field representatives on island, according to USCIS regional media manager Marie Thérèse Sebrechts.

“To date our U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Saipan has seen approximately 660 individuals who had questions. Most of these customers make InfoPass appointments…and those with appointments receive priority,” she said.

DHS is reminding people to respect the time of their appointment and if someone cannot make it, they ask them to cancel the appointment so that someone else can sign up for the time.

Sebrechts emphasized that an InfoPass appointment is just for one person and requires additional appointments if several family members or colleagues plan to come together to the center.

She disclosed that the Application Support Center has also taken fingerprints for 133 applicants, including adjustment of status and naturalization applicants.

Sebrechts said about 42 adjustment of status—or green card—interviews have so far been conducted on Saipan.

Saipan Tribune learned that DHS will begin conducting interviews for N-400 applicants, or those seeking U.S. citizenship.

“Citizenship interviews are expected to start next month [May],” she said.

Based on the center’s record, the following were the issues raised by those who visited the office:

-Applying for US-INA status prior to federalization;

-Extending CNMI immigration status, which they referred to CNMI immigration;

-Status after the federalization of CNMI IRs; and

-Questions about obtaining forms, where to file them, and assisting them in filling out U.S. immigration forms.

Sebrechts said queries related to the E2 CNMI investor and transitional worker status were also received by field representatives. They advised these people that those questions could only be answered when the proposed rules are issued.

The federalizaton law established two CNMI specific nonimmigrant classifications: CNMI Treaty Investors and Transitional Workers. Proposed regulations to implement these two classifications are currently under development by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Once completed, DHS will publish the proposed regulations and there will be a public comment period.

So far, only the regulations governing the Guam-CNMI visa waiver program have been released, which include provisions that require tourists from China and Russia markets to obtain the necessary U.S. visa before they can visit the islands.

The DHS recently delayed for 180 days the implementation of the federalization transition period in the CNMI after considering the plight of the local government, business sector, and the CNMI community.