CW-1 visa applications now available for $150

Workers in the CNMI who have already been granted Commonwealth-only worker status may now apply for a CW visa at the U.S. Embassy in Manila to be able to re-enter the CNMI after a vacation or emergency exit, among other things.

The U.S. Embassy in Manila is now providing application services for CW-1 and CW-2 visa applications for a fee of $150 each.

CW visas may be issued only after CW petitions have been filed with and are approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Information about the CW visa application is available at the U.S. Embassy’s website at http://manila.usembassy.gov/cnmi-visas.html

U.S. embassies in other countries where other foreign workers in the CNMI originally come from still do not have CW visa application services posted on their websites as of yesterday afternoon.

“The transitional worker and investor visas are valid only for entrance into the CNMI. Visa holders cannot use these visas to travel to or work anywhere else in the United States. However, Filipino transitional workers will be allowed to transit through Guam to the CNMI on their visa,” the U.S. Embassy in Manila said on its website.

For Filipino workers in the CNMI, the availability of a CW visa application service at the U.S. embassy in their country of origin is welcome relief.

A 32-year-old worker from the Philippines whose CW petition was approved in December 2011 said yesterday she’s relieved to know that the U.S. Embassy in Manila is now providing services for those who wish to apply for a CW visa.

The worker, who started working on Saipan in 2005, has been planning to go on vacation but couldn’t finalize her travel dates until she gets a confirmed online appointment with the U.S. Embassy in Manila to apply for a CW visa that will allow her to re-enter the CNMI.

Immigration system changes in the CNMI and the local economy have taken their toll on foreign workers’ vacation plans.

Rene Reyes, founding president of the Marianas Advocates for Humanitarian Affairs Ltd. or Mahal, said yesterday that in his 23 years on Saipan, this has been the only time when he has not heard of many Filipino workers wanting to go on vacation, except for emergency reasons such as a death in the family or medical treatment.

“The uncertainty over immigration status is a major reason. People do not want to take the risk of not being able to re-enter the CNMI after going off island until federalization issues are resolved. But it’s good that people can now apply for a CW visa in Manila if they have already gotten their CW status. But even federal officials said that having a CW status or permit is not a 100 percent guarantee that you will get a CW visa when you apply for it,” Reyes told Saipan Tribune.

Foreign workers in the CNMI with pending CW petitions have been applying for, and been granted, advance parole, which costs $360 to be able to re-enter the CNMI.

Bong Malasarte, president of the United Filipino Organization, separately said that another reason for the drastic decline in the number of Filipino workers going on vacation is the slow economy’s negative impact on their finances.

“We all know that the economy is bad, and people are trying to hold on to their dollars,” said Malasarte, referring to work hour cuts, federal taxes that Filipino workers now have to pay, and increased costs of gas, utilities, and other consumer goods and services.

CW and E-2c are new visa categories created pursuant to U.S. Public Law 110-229, which placed CNMI immigration under federal control.

These visas are solely for people who are already working in and living in the CNMI, and will be valid until Dec. 31, 2014, when the transition period ends.

CW-1 classification refers to transitional workers who are legally present in the CNMI at the time of the approval of the petition.

CW-2 classification, meanwhile, refers to spouses and unmarried children under 18 years old of CW-1 beneficiaries. CW-2 visa holders are not eligible to work in the CNMI.

An E-2C classification refers to foreign investors who were lawfully admitted to the CNMI before Nov. 28, 2009, under CNMI investor status. The three sub-categories for this classification are long-term investor, foreign investor, and retiree investor.

Unlike the CW-1 and CW-2 visa applications, the fee for an E-2C visa application is $390.

In addition to the basic documentary requirements for a visa, the principal applicant for a CW-1 or E-2C visa must present a copy of the I-129CW petition, and an original or copy of the I-797 form.

For dependent spouses and children, the following must be submitted in addition to the basic requirements:

1. Copy of principal applicant’s current nonimmigrant CW-1 or E-2C visa (if following to join);

2. Copy of principal applicant’s I-129CW petition and I-797 form;

3. Marriage certificate issued on Philippine National Statistics Office (NSO) security paper for spouses; and

4. Birth certificate(s) issued on Philippine National Statistics Office (NSO) security paper for eligible unmarried children.

In some cases, additional documents may be requested.