Recent Developments in the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI)

December 10, 2012POEA MARKET UPDATE NO. 02-13RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF NORTHERN MARIANAS ISLANDS (CNMI)The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Agana, Guam reported the following developments in the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) in relation to the deployment of Filipino workers in Saipan: •  The transition period for the implementation of US immigration law in the CNMI which began in 2009, is scheduled to end on 31 December 2014. On 08 May 2008, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act (CNRA) was signed into law. It established the "federalization" of, or the application of the US immigration law in the CNMI starting 2009. The CRNA amended the 1976 covenant between the US and the CNMI that had given the CNMI government the authority to administer its own immigration system. The transition period for the implementation of US immigration law in the CNMI began in 2009, and is scheduled to end on 31 December 2014; AaCTcI•  Under the CNRA a transitional work permit program in the CNMI for foreign workers was established. The program stressed that...