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Mayor ID card machine back on line
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Posted on Oct 16 2004
The Saipan Mayor’s Office began issuing identification cards for Saipan residents last Aug. 10, only to have the program cease for two weeks due to a mechanical problem with the machine used for creating the cards.
In an interview Friday, Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela said the problem has already been addressed and that the machine has been operating after being repaired last month.
“The problem is with the printer, so we contacted the company that we got the machine from, and they sent us the parts for repair,” Tudela said.
The machine was purchased from the U.S.-based General Services Administration. Tudela said his office did not have to spend for the cost of repair as it was covered by a warranty.
Tudela said a member of his staff has been training via the Internet on repair and maintenance of the machine in case of future mishaps.
Since its repair, Tudela said many residents on Saipan have already purchased IDs. He urged residents who have yet to obtain the card to do so, citing that the cards may be used in banks and other institutions to prove residency in the CNMI.
“Most of the people on the island don’t have a passport or any identification [card] and if they want to go to Guam, they can use the ID and it’s acceptable,” he said in a separate interview.
Applicants for the card must be either a permanent resident or a United States citizen residing on Saipan, or citizens of freely associated states like the Republic of Palau, the Marshall Islands, or Federated States of Micronesia residing on Saipan.
A certified birth certificate, a valid passport (U.S. or from any of the freely associated states) or a valid permanent resident card must be presented when applying. Applicants are also required to submit the street name of their residence on Saipan, which will also be included in the ID card.
A fee of $15 will be charged to applicants 18-52 years old while minors, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities will be charged $7. A proof of disability or letter from a licensed physician must be included for those with disabilities.
For more information, contact the Saipan Mayor’s Office at 234-6208 or 6280.
