Thousands of workers short this new year

About 800 contract workers whose work permits were submitted for renewal 90 days or more before the Dec. 31 deadline will see their permits processed this week, according to Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan. However, that still means businesses will not have enough workers to begin the New Year.

Some 2,000 CW applicants that fall outside this timeframe would be reviewed with “some priority” by federal officials, Sablan said yesterday, relaying information has directly received from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

“But they have made no assurances that they will process them,” noted Sablan.

How this will affect the Commonwealth to start the New Year remains to be seen. Employers could pay employees overtime to make up for those employees who are not there, Sablan said.

“It’s very unfortunate and it’s unacceptable,” added Sablan. “And I have let USCIS know this, and will continue to do so.”

Sablan received word from USCIS yesterday morning that employers can rely on their workers’ online case status, said Sablan. That means those whose permits have been approved already and that status shows online may continue working.

It’s been widely believed that workers must have hard-copy permits on hand to continue working.

“What they should do is print that out and keep that for their records,” Sablan said.

In light of the issue, Sablan encouraged businesses to hire U.S. workers in the long run to save money and avoid the headaches of the permitting process, as the CNMI continues to see a reduction of CW permits allowed in the CNMI.

Bog down

Business leaders in the Commonwealth have noted a bog down in the permitting process.

Saipan Tribune learned this month that business investors have been seeking assistance in expediting the process for foreign workers under CW visas, even if these workers are eligible for H-visas, Saipan Tribune learned. For one, an unnamed construction firm seeking to do business in the CNMI has a pending application for some 500 contract workers who could readily be classified under the H-visa class.

Sablan said yesterday that if there are new workers needed for a specific or particular project then he would urge federal agencies to have these people apply for H-visas.

“So once those workers are gone, then those workers should leave,” Sablan said. “They shouldn’t be using up the CWs, because CWs should be a catch all for the many positions here that are not available under H-1 or H-2 visas.

“When you sign for that paper you attest that there is no other employment visa available to you. That’s why you applied for CW,” said Sablan