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  4. CW-1: CNMI-Only Transitional Worker

CW-1: CNMI-Only Transitional Worker

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The CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) visa classification allows employers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to apply for permission to employ aliens who are otherwise ineligible to work under other nonimmigrant worker categories.

Eligibility

To qualify, employers must:

  • Obtain an approved temporary labor certification (TLC) from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and consider all available U.S. workers for the position;
  • Be engaged in a legitimate business, including participating in good standing in the E-Verify program,
  • Offer terms and conditions of employment consistent with the nature of their business in the CNMI;
  • Comply with all federal and CNMI requirements relating to employment (for example, nondiscrimination, occupational safety, and minimum wage requirements);
  • Pay reasonable transportation costs if the individual is involuntarily dismissed from employment for any reason before the end of the period of authorized admission; and
  • Comply with the semiannual reporting requirement by timely filing Form I-129CWR, Semiannual Report for CW-1 Employers.

For more information, visit our CW-1: CNMI-Only Transitional Worker page.

How to File

Your employer must:

  • Read the instructions for Form I-129CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Transitional Worker;
  • Complete and sign Form I-129CW;
  • Pay the filing fee, if applicable; and
  • Submit the mandatory $200 education fee (per worker, per year);
  • Submit the mandatory $50 fraud prevention and detection fee per petition; and
  • Provide all required evidence and supporting documentation.

Want status updates about your case? Learn how to create a USCIS online account to stay informed.

After You File

Once we receive your employer’s form, we will send a:

  • Receipt notice confirming we received the petition; 
  • Biometric services notice, if applicable, and
  • Notice of our decision to the beneficiary.

Forms and Fees

  • Form I-129CW
  • Form I-129CWR, when applicable

Find fee information on our Fee Schedule page.

Last Reviewed/Updated:
01/12/2021
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