QUIRK IN uscis LOCATION ALLOWS FAST TRACK

[Mayor 0]

I was a resident of the U.S. Territory, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The CNMI is NOT under the U.S. Homeland Security umbrella - therefore, not subject to U.S. immigration laws. The CNMI manages it's own immigration policy. BUT, under the territorial agreement with the U.S. government, the commonwealth is considered U.S. SOIL for purposes of entering the U.S. proper. The CNMI allows persons to enter from various countrys, including the P.I. and CHINA on a tourist entry permit for a stay of 30 days extendable to 90 days. A resident of the CNMI (U.S. citizen) can sponsor a tourist. The app takes one or two days to get and is free.

Here is what happened to me: I applied as sponsor for a tourist to enter the CNMI from the P.I. She arrived six days later. We were married (by the island's mayor) two days later. We apllied for her "Immediate Relative" status the next day. It was granted in two more days due to the fact she was now married to a U.S. citizen residing in the CNMI. The next day, we submitted I-130 and I-485 to U.S. immigration - California center. Acknowledgment returned in one week. We received notice for interview appointment (in Guam) 60 days later. The appointment was scheduled in three weeks. The green card was granted the next day and we left for the U.S. mainland the following day. We flew directly from Guam to Japan, then on to entry point in Detroit.

The ENTIRE process from her entry to the CNMI to having a green card in hand took just under three months. Other people on this track had previously told me that they were done in just over two months - our problem was that we made the app just two days before the fee increase on July 31 - and got caught up in a "rush" of last minute apps from all over the world. So our three months was actually a little LONGER than normal.

Now the bad news: U.S. immigration had tolerated this situation for over 15 years and we are now told that they are in the process of closing this "fast track" and that it will probably take just as long as from anywhere else in the future. Also, the U.S. congress is in the process of "federalizing" the CNMI which means the USCIS will take over immigration in that territory sometime next year. We are now happily living in Florida.

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

The green card was granted the next day and we left for the U.S. mainland the following day. We flew directly from Guam to Japan, then on to entry point in Detroit.

Since when are green cards printed and handed out so quickly abroad? Even CR1/IR1 have to wait a couple weeks after arrival into the US to have their GC's mailed to them.

It would be interesting if you could provide a link to the details of this quirk in the process to a site with the details you mention.

[athena_ny 1]

I was a resident of the U.S. Territory, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The CNMI is NOT under the U.S. Homeland Security umbrella - therefore, not subject to U.S. immigration laws. The CNMI manages it's own immigration policy. BUT, under the territorial agreement with the U.S. government, the commonwealth is considered U.S. SOIL for purposes of entering the U.S. proper. The CNMI allows persons to enter from various countrys, including the P.I. and CHINA on a tourist entry permit for a stay of 30 days extendable to 90 days. A resident of the CNMI (U.S. citizen) can sponsor a tourist. The app takes one or two days to get and is free.

Here is what happened to me: I applied as sponsor for a tourist to enter the CNMI from the P.I. She arrived six days later. We were married (by the island's mayor) two days later. We apllied for her "Immediate Relative" status the next day. It was granted in two more days due to the fact she was now married to a U.S. citizen residing in the CNMI. The next day, we submitted I-130 and I-485 to U.S. immigration - California center. Acknowledgment returned in one week. We received notice for interview appointment (in Guam) 60 days later. The appointment was scheduled in three weeks. The green card was granted the next day and we left for the U.S. mainland the following day. We flew directly from Guam to Japan, then on to entry point in Detroit.

The ENTIRE process from her entry to the CNMI to having a green card in hand took just under three months. Other people on this track had previously told me that they were done in just over two months - our problem was that we made the app just two days before the fee increase on July 31 - and got caught up in a "rush" of last minute apps from all over the world. So our three months was actually a little LONGER than normal.

Now the bad news: U.S. immigration had tolerated this situation for over 15 years and we are now told that they are in the process of closing this "fast track" and that it will probably take just as long as from anywhere else in the future. Also, the U.S. congress is in the process of "federalizing" the CNMI which means the USCIS will take over immigration in that territory sometime next year. We are now happily living in Florida.

I for one have no problem with this now coming under the jurisdiction of the USCIS and the people adjusting in this territory having to wait the same amount of time. Ideally, all would be faster, but come on now...

[Mayor 0]

I was a resident of the U.S. Territory, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The CNMI is NOT under the U.S. Homeland Security umbrella - therefore, not subject to U.S. immigration laws. The CNMI manages it's own immigration policy. BUT, under the territorial agreement with the U.S. government, the commonwealth is considered U.S. SOIL for purposes of entering the U.S. proper. The CNMI allows persons to enter from various countrys, including the P.I. and CHINA on a tourist entry permit for a stay of 30 days extendable to 90 days. A resident of the CNMI (U.S. citizen) can sponsor a tourist. The app takes one or two days to get and is free.

Here is what happened to me: I applied as sponsor for a tourist to enter the CNMI from the P.I. She arrived six days later. We were married (by the island's mayor) two days later. We apllied for her "Immediate Relative" status the next day. It was granted in two more days due to the fact she was now married to a U.S. citizen residing in the CNMI. The next day, we submitted I-130 and I-485 to U.S. immigration - California center. Acknowledgment returned in one week. We received notice for interview appointment (in Guam) 60 days later. The appointment was scheduled in three weeks. The green card was granted the next day and we left for the U.S. mainland the following day. We flew directly from Guam to Japan, then on to entry point in Detroit.

The ENTIRE process from her entry to the CNMI to having a green card in hand took just under three months. Other people on this track had previously told me that they were done in just over two months - our problem was that we made the app just two days before the fee increase on July 31 - and got caught up in a "rush" of last minute apps from all over the world. So our three months was actually a little LONGER than normal.

Now the bad news: U.S. immigration had tolerated this situation for over 15 years and we are now told that they are in the process of closing this "fast track" and that it will probably take just as long as from anywhere else in the future. Also, the U.S. congress is in the process of "federalizing" the CNMI which means the USCIS will take over immigration in that territory sometime next year. We are now happily living in Florida.

[Mayor 0]

In this case, the "green card" was given the next day in the form of a 551 visa stamped in the passport. The actual card was mailed in about ten days.

As far as the CNMI coming under Federal jurisdiction for this - I agree 100% - it was just a quirk that worked in our benefit - and to the benfit of about 500 others over the last 15 years. Personally, I'm glad to see the same level of control there as everywhere. But it still would be nice if USCIS could make their operation faster across the board - and while the applicant is on U.S. soiul too!