President Trump has signed a new law extending the CNMI CW-1 program that allows employers within the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to seek permission to employ foreign workers who are otherwise ineligible to work in the CNMI under other nonimmigrant worker categories.
Under the new law:
- The CNMI CW-1 program has been extended through 2029;
- CW-1 employers must pay an additional $50 fraud prevention and detection fee with each petition;
- CNMI employers seeking CW-1 workers must enrol in E-Verify and comply with the requirements of the E-Verify program
- The CW-1 cap for FY 2019 has been increased from 4,999 to 13,000. USCIS will now resume accepting CW-1 petitions. Employers whose petitions were previously rejected because the cap was reached must file a new petition for CW workers to be considered under the increased cap.
Contact VisaPro if you have any questions regarding the new act, or need help applying for a U.S. work permit. Our experienced Immigration Attorneys will be happy to assist you. Schedule a Free Visa Assessment today to discuss your specific situation.
William Pura, Canada
