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Immigration streamlines operations
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Posted on Oct 13 2004
Travel agencies applying for visitor entry permits would soon line up with applicants for other immigration documents, as part of the Division of Immigration’s continuing reorganization efforts.
Acting immigration director Antonio P. Sablan bared plans to take the VEP processing from his office and consolidate it with the regular visa processing section.
At present, VEP processing is being done at the division’s administrative section. He expressed hope that, by transferring the VEP processing to the regular visa section, the administrative personnel would be able to focus on their work.
Sablan reported there are only two personnel currently handling VEP applications. Only one of them is totally dedicated to the task, while the other merely provides assistance.
Meanwhile, the volume of applications continues to increase. He cited the additional flights and the influx of nurses coming to the CNMI to take the National Council Licensure Examination as among the factors.
“The applications are just too many for one full-time person to handle,” Sablan said. He hopes another employee would be hired for VEP processing, and at least five more for other processing work.
He noted that the regular processing section has only nine staff members.
Immigration functions being carried out at the regular processing section include alien registration; verification of departures; processing of alien labor, short-term, immediate relative, and missionary permits, among other things; and distribution of permits.
