USCIS Updates Policy on CW-1 Departure Requirement

USCIS is modifying its policy on implementing the requirement that individuals leave the United States for at least 30 days after two renewals of their CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) visa classification.

Effective immediately, USCIS will only consider CW-1 petitions approved on or after June 18, 2020, when applying the requirement that certain CW-1 nonimmigrant workers depart the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for a period of at least 30 continuous days. For example, any individual approved on or after June 18, 2020, for a one-year CW-1 validity period beginning October 1, 2020, will be eligible for two more consecutive petition validity periods after the first period of validity expires on September 30, 2021. Previously, USCIS counted all consecutive petition validity periods, even those approved prior to June 18, 2020, when determining which CW-1 nonimmigrant workers are subject to the temporary departure requirement.

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Cite as AILA Doc. No. 20082507.

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