Kilili: NMI must adjust to loss of markets for now

Rep. Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan (I-MP) said he is disappointed China and Russia were not included in the new Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver program but he will work with Department of Homeland Security officials to make sure the necessary security measures are in place fully and as quickly as possible.

Last week, the interim final rule for the visa waiver program was published, stating that China and Russia would not be included in the program until additional security measures were achieved. The new visa waiver rules will go into effect June 1, with a possible delay of up to six months. Local officials, business and tourism leaders, and community members expressed disappointment with the decision, saying the exclusion will harm the CNMI’s economy during an already difficult period.

Sablan said he was also hoping the two countries would be included.

“They are not and this is unfortunate,” he said in an e-mail. “I am obviously unhappy with this but I am now looking forward to seeing Homeland Security complete the installation of the necessary security net and other infrastructure so that we will be able to petition for the inclusion of these two countries in the CNMI-Guam only visa waiver program.”

Alex Hartman, an immigration policy adviser at DHS who was on island last week, said some of the additional security measures could be electronic travel authorization and biometric entry and exit requirements. The security measures could be in place in 12 to 18 months, at which time, the CNMI could petition to include China and Russia in the waiver program.

Sablan said he would continue to meet with DHS officials and work with the House Natural Resources Committee to receive reports on the status of the improvements.

“We will have to adjust to the loss of China and Russia for some time. But even still, as soon as December we may be able to receive Chinese and Russian tourists under the Visa Waiver Program again, but with even better screening methods than we have now,” he said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection must also set up six ports of entry and exit in the CNMI. The congressman said work could begin as soon as the interim final rules were published; therefore finishing the work sooner than if work was started June 1. The rules were published Friday.

CBP estimates it will incur a cost of approximately $25.8 million to develop the infrastructure and $153,100 per year for port operation and maintenance. An initial $3.7 million will also be incurred for personnel relocation and $7.8 million per year for personnel salary and $5.3 million per year for associated temporary costs, for a total of $87.3 million to $91.7 million, depending on discount rates.

The Guam-CNMI visa-waiver program will allow citizens of the following countries to enter Guam and the CNMI without a visa for up to 45 days: Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. The visa-waiver program is part of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, signed into law by President Bush last May.