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Petition, letter writing focus on draft tourism visa rules
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Posted on Feb 19 2009
The Marianas Visitors Authority continues to urge community members to join the petition and letter writing campaign seeking a delay by the Department of Homeland Security in the implementation of proposed tourism visa regulations.
This week MVA clarified that the petition does seek an overall delay in CNMI immigration federalization under PL 110-229, which includes tourism visa regulations affecting visitors from the People’s Republic of China and Russia.
“The community’s concern addressed by this petition is the exclusion of visitors from the PRC and Russia, only,” said MVA managing director Perry Tenorio. “We want to clarify that this petition asks that the CNMI be allowed to receive visitors from these two source markets.”
The PRC and Russia exclusion, coupled with Japan air service cuts by Northwest Airlines beginning next month and lower arrivals from Korea this year, is anticipated to cut CNMI revenue by 35.2 percent annually. MVA has estimated the CNMI will lose 656 public sector jobs and 733 private sectors jobs if PRC and Russia are excluded in the proposed Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program.
“If tourism shrinks, the number of jobs will also shrink. That’s a concern for both public and private sector employees, and we strongly urge employees to let DHS know that the People’s Republic of China and Russia are important for all of us,” said Tenorio.
The petition request the delay of the start of the transition period for 180 days or until the required additional security measures of Section III (A) (2) are in place and the DHS has made a determination that visitors from the PRC and Russia can participate in the Guam-CNMI visa waiver program and amends the regulations.
Individuals interested in signing or circulating petitions or attaining a form letter may visit the MVA office or download a copy and instructions at www.mymarianas.com. Questions regarding the petition may be addressed to mva@mymarianas.com. Petitions should be returned to MVA by Feb. 27, 2009, for compilation and delivery to DHS. Comments on the rules may also be submitted directly to DHS at www.regulations.gov, enter USCBP-2009-0001. [B][I](MVA)[/I][/B]
