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Grey says status of IRs remains uncertain
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Posted on Nov 03 2008
The status of immediate relatives of CNMI permanent residents and of Federated States of Micronesia citizens remains uncertain until federal agencies come up with their regulations under the federalization law, according to Immigration Director Melvin Grey.
In an interview with Saipan Tribune, Grey said the CNMI government and even the attorneys’ association in the Commonwealth have expressed concern about the IRs’ status.
“But we don’t know what they [federal agencies] are going to do. Until they put [the regulations] in print, they won’t tell us,” Grey said.
Grey could not immediately provide the exact number of IRs of permanent residents and FSM citizens are in the CNMI.
He said the CNMI had already addressed the IRs issue by giving these people consideration, as it is not difficult to qualify for such a status.
“Those who commit fraud we’re after them,” Grey said.
The director noted that some IR people have no intention of applying for green cards. “They are happy to stay in the CNMI; they are not looking for green cards.”
Grey said some IRs can’t meet the income criteria and they can’t afford the filing fee, which is $1,350.
“What are they [federal agencies] going to do with these folks? We don’t have the answer yet. What time frame they will be given to file we don’t know,” he said.
Grey also pointed out that under the current U.S. laws, FSM citizens cannot take their alien spouses to the U.S.
“So what are they going to do with them? The issue has been brought up, but we don’t have an answer,” he said.
The director said the regulations are supposed to be out early this month.
Then federal Labor ombudsman Jim Benedetto in July said the Department of Homeland Security may come up with a solution on how to address the status of IRs of CNMI permanent residents. With respect to IRs of FSM citizens, Benedetto said he doesn’t know the answer.
