Latest News

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) advises anyone who lives in the CNMI who is submitting an immigration application to list their Post Office Box where the immigration form asks for a street or physical address.  This is very important as applications that do not use P.O. Boxes are being returned to the USCIS office.

If an applicant has already filed an application with USCIS using a street name, it is important to complete a change of address.  There are four ways to do change your address for the specific application you have submitted:

Nonimmigrant visa application to be available via web-based by April 30, 2010.

DOS Bureau of Consular Affairs announced that it will deploy the DS-160 fully web-based nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application form worldwide. Complete global usage of DS-160 for all NIVS except K’s is expected by 04/30/10. DS-160 replaces the Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF).

Fiscal Year 2010 H-1B Cap Count

On November 28, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 applied the immigration and Nationality Act to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), The Department will administer certain immigration programs on CNMI. The Department has published FAQs to assist CNMI employers with obtaining prevailing wages.

The Department has posted FAQs explaining how one should notify the Atlanta National Processing Center of a change of address, change of legal representation, and other related actions.

To read FAQ, see the attachment: 

Q:  Could USCIS send a receipt notice when the fee waiver application is received?  

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that at 12:01 a.m. (CNMI local time/GMT +10.) , Nov. 28, the immigration laws of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) will be replaced by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and other U.S. immigration laws. The definition of “United States” in the INA simultaneously will be amended to include the CNMI—providing new privileges and easing restrictions to CNMI residents wishing to live and work in the United States.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued guidance on October 7, 2009  to clarify for performing arts associations and their members the regulatory requirements for agents who file as petitioners for the O and P visa classification.

O and P visas apply to non-immigrants with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, or in the motion picture and television field.  O and P petitions may only be filed by a U.S. employer, a U.S. agent, or a foreign employer through a U.S. agent. 

[Federal Register: November 25, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 226)]
[Rules and Regulations]              
[Page 61517-61524]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25no09-9]                        

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As of November 20, 2009, approximately 56,900 H-1B cap-subject petitions had been filed. USCIS has approved sufficient H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees to meet the exemption of 20,000 from the fiscal year 2010 cap. Any H-1B petitions filed on behalf of an alien with an advanced degree will now count toward the general H-1B cap of 65,000.