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Approved CW-1 occupations info received via FOIA
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Posted on Jan 16 2014
The CNMI Target 2014 Task Force, in its effort to respond to U.S. Public Law 110-229’s call for the transition of foreign workers, invoked the Freedom of Information Act requesting for information on approved CW-1 occupations/positions. The combined data received for fiscal year 2012–2013 from Oct. 7, 2011 to Sept. 30, 2013, provides the task force the necessary information in order to plan and design training programs that will fill the pipeline of workers needed to sustain the CNMI’s economy and to assist employers in securing employees first from among U.S. citizens and nationals residing in the CNMI, and if an adequate number of such workers are not available, from among legal permanent residents, including lawfully admissible citizens of the Freely Associated States.
This data will also assist the CNMI Scholarship and SHEFA programs in identifying CNMI college graduates that want to return home for employment opportunities while at the same time to assist the CNMI Department of Labor in accelerating employment placement services for registered unemployed citizens.
While appreciative of the data received, there are also concerns with respect to the enormous number of approved CW-1 visas without job codes/job descriptions. This concern will be addressed to USCIS by the CNMI Secretary of Labor.
Employers are required to pay $150 education fee for each beneficiary. These funds are for purposes of providing training programs that will address the transition of foreign workers. The Northern Marianas College, Public School System, and Northern Marianas Trades Institute are currently the recipients of these training funds.[B][I] (Office of the Governor)[/I][/B]
