Fraud Detection Measures Implemented in Northern Mariana Islands to Combat Immigration Abuse
In an effort to stem the tide of immigration fraud, the US government has introduced stringent measures in the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) to detect and prevent fraudulent activities related to foreign worker employment. These measures aim to ensure that only eligible foreign workers are employed in the territory.
Mandatory Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee
Effective immediately, employers seeking to hire foreign workers under the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)-Only Transitional Worker program (CW-1 program) must pay a mandatory $50 fraud prevention and detection fee with each petition. This new fee is in addition to other existing fees and applies only to petitions filed after July 24, 2018.
E-Verify Enrollment
Employers seeking CW-1 workers must now enroll in E-Verify, a web-based system that verifies an employee’s eligibility to work in the US by comparing information from Form I-9 with government records. Although enrollment is not currently mandatory, it will soon be required for all employers filing for CW-1 visas.
New Rules for Petition Submission
USCIS has introduced new rules for the submission of petitions:
- Rejection of any petition received after July 24, 2018 that includes incorrect or insufficient fees
- Employers whose petitions were previously rejected due to reaching the cap must file a new petition if they want their workers to be considered under the increased cap
Delayed Implementation of Other Changes
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has exercised its discretion to delay implementation of other changes to the CW program, pending the issuance of an interim final rule. In the meantime, USCIS will only accept petitions submitted using the May 9, 2018 version of Form I-129CW and will reject any petitions using earlier versions.
Commitment to Combat Immigration Abuse
These measures are aimed at detecting and preventing fraud in the CW-1 program, which is critical to ensuring that only eligible foreign workers are employed in NMI. The new regulations demonstrate a commitment by the US government to combat immigration abuse and ensure the integrity of its visa programs.
Key Takeaways
- Mandatory $50 fraud prevention and detection fee for petitions filed after July 24, 2018
- E-Verify enrollment required for CW-1 workers
- New rules for petition submission, including rejection of incorrect or insufficient fees
- Delayed implementation of other changes to the CW program pending interim final rule
- Commitment to combat immigration abuse and ensure visa program integrity