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150-day stay in CNMI eyed for CEP holders
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Posted on Jan 31 2005
Visitors who hold the comity entry permit may soon be able to stay in the Northern Marianas for up to 150 straight days, with the Attorney General’s Office proposing regulations that allow CEP holders to receive a long-term tourist entry permit as an extension to their 90-day permit.
The AGO said the proposal was “based on the success of the comity entry permit…and requests to extend the permissible periods” under the permit.
Currently, CEP holders are not allowed to renew their permit, or receive a CEP within 30 days after the expiration of any other permit.
To be able to stay on the islands longer than 90 days, a person has to depart the CNMI before the CEP expires and immediately return on a 30-day short-term tourist entry permit. A visitor can further extend his stay by another 60 days by paying a $100 fee for a long-term tourist entry permit.
With the proposed regulation, a CEP holder would no longer have to exit the CNMI before his initial 90-day permit expires. Rather, he would simply need to pay the $100 fee extend his stay to 150 days.
Japan Consul Takeo Saito welcomed the AGO’s proposal, which he said will enhance tourism between the CNMI and Japan. He reported that in November alone, the Division of Immigration issued 496 CEPs to foreign senior citizens.
Saito also urged the CNMI government to consider reviewing exactly how long each tourist stayed under the CEP program. “By doing so, they may have a clearer picture of their policy,” he said.
Eligible for a comity entry permit are tourists who are at least 55 years old and who hold a passport from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, or the United Kingdom.
These countries provides a comparable permit to citizens of the Commonwealth.
Applicants for CEPs must also have a passport valid for at least 60 days after the expected date of departure.
Under immigration rules and regulations, the immediate family members of senior citizens may themselves receive CEPs. Their permits, however, will expire with that of the eligible senior citizen.
CEP holders may enter and exit the Commonwealth within 90 days, but they may not remain outside the CNMI for more than 10 consecutive days during this period.
