Guam-Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Visa Waiver Program Automation and Electronic Travel Authorization; Creation of CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP)

<RULE> DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY <CFR>8 CFR Parts 212, 214, and 233</CFR> <DEPDOC>[Docket No. USCBP-2023-0020; CBP Dec. 23-07]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 1651-AB37</RIN> <SUBJECT>Guam-Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Visa Waiver Program Automation and Electronic Travel Authorization; Creation of CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP)</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Interim final rule; request for comments. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> This rule amends the Department of Homeland Security regulations to require persons intending to travel to Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) under the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program (G-CNMI VWP) to submit Form I-736 electronically in advance of travel and receive an electronic travel authorization prior to embarking on a carrier for travel to Guam or the CNMI. Under the current G-CNMI VWP regulations, a paper U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Form I-736 is presented to CBP upon arrival. This rule also establishes the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP) as a restricted sub-program of the G-CNMI VWP. This program is being established based on recommendations made pursuant to consultations between the United States and the CNMI under Section 902 of the Covenant to Establish the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America. Once implemented, the CNMI EVS-TAP will allow prescreened nationals of the People's Republic of China to travel to the CNMI without a visa under specified conditions. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> <E T="03">Effective date:</E> This interim final rule is effective September 30, 2024. <E T="03">Comment date:</E> Comments must be received by March 18, 2024. <E T="03">Implementation date:</E> CNMI EVS-TAP will be implemented 45 days after publication of a subsequent notification in the <E T="04">Federal Register</E> . </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> Please submit any comments, identified by docket number [USCBP-2023-0020], by the following method: • <E T="03">Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.</E> Follow the instructions for submitting comments. <E T="03">Instructions:</E> All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number for this rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov,</E> including any personal information provided. <E T="03">Docket:</E> For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov.</E> <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Neyda Yejo, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, (202) 344-2373, or via email at <E T="03">Neyda.I.Yejo@cbp.dhs.gov.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">I. Public Participation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">II. Background</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Legal Authority</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Guam-Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Visa Waiver Program (G-CNMI VWP)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Current Paper CBP Form I-736 Process</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Need To Automate the G-CNMI VWP</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Treatment of Travelers From the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the CNMI</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Exclusion of PRC From the G-CNMI VWP</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Parole</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Review of U.S. Parole Policies</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. 902 Consultations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. The Covenant and 902 Consultation Process</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Recommendations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Implementation of 902 Consultation Recommendations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">III. Overview of Regulatory Changes</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">IV. G-CNMI VWP Automation and Electronic Travel Authorization</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Electronic Travel Authorization</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Electronic Travel Authorization Requirement and Transition Period</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Obtaining Travel Authorization</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Timeline for Submitting Travel Authorization Data</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Required Travel Authorization Data Elements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. Scope of G-CNMI VWP Electronic Travel Authorization</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">6. Duration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">7. Events Requiring New Travel Authorization</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">8. Fee</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Conforming Amendments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Technical Corrections</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">V. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (CNMI EVS-TAP)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. CNMI EVS-TAP</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Description</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Eligibility</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Suspension or Discontinuation of Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Ineligibility Due to Admission Under the CNMI EVS-TAP</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. Requirements for Transportation Lines</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">6. Bonding</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">7. Maintenance of Status—Satisfactory Departure</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">8. Inadmissibility and Deportability</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">9. Electronic Travel Authorization</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Electronic Travel Authorization Requirement, Transition Period, and Impact on Parole</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Obtaining Travel Authorization</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Timeline for Submitting Travel Authorization Data</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">d. Required Travel Authorization Data Elements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">e. Scope of CNMI EVS-TAP Electronic Travel Authorization</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">f. Duration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">g. Events Requiring New Travel Authorization</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">h. Fee</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">10. Severability</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">11. Implementation Date</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Conforming Amendments and Revision of CBP Form I-760</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">VI. Statutory and Regulatory Reviews</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Administrative Procedure Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Regulatory Flexibility Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Privacy</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Paperwork Reduction Act</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Public Participation</HD> Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments on all aspects of this interim final rule. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP also invite comments that relate to the economic, environmental, or federalism effects that might result from this interim final rule. Comments that will provide the most assistance to CBP will reference a specific portion of the interim final rule, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include data, information, or authority that supports the recommended change. <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Background</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Legal Authority</HD> The Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) has broad authority to administer and enforce the immigration and naturalization laws of the United States. <E T="03">See</E> section 103(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (INA) (Pub. L. 82-414, 66 Stat. 163), as amended (8 U.S.C. 1103(a)(1)); <E T="03">see also</E> 6 U.S.C. 202. The Secretary is authorized to establish such regulations as the Secretary deems necessary to carry out this authority under the immigration laws. <E T="03">See</E> INA sec. 103(a)(3) (8 U.S.C. 1103(a)(3)). Section 214(a)(1) of the INA specifically authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations specifying the period of admission and any conditions for the admission of nonimmigrants to the United States (8 U.S.C. 1184(a)(1)). <SU>1</SU> <FTREF/> <FTNT> <SU>1</SU>   <E T="03">See also</E> sections 402, 1512, and 1517 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2142, 2187), as amended (6 U.S.C. 202, 552, and 557) (regarding transfer of authority to enforce immigration laws and prescribe regulations necessary to carry out that authority from the Attorney General to the Secretary). </FTNT> The Secretary has authorized the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enforce and administer the immigration laws relating to the inspection and admission of noncitizens  <SU>2</SU> <FTREF/> seeking admission to the United States, including the authority to make admissibility determinations and set the duration, terms, and conditions of admission. <E T="03">See</E> Delegation Order 7010.3, II.B.5 (Revision No. 03.1, Incorporating Change 1) (Nov. 25, 2019). <FTNT> <SU>2</SU>  For purposes of this document, CBP uses terms such as “traveler,” “individual,” and “noncitizen” in place of the term “alien.” However, DHS regulations continue to use the term “alien,” as defined by the INA. <E T="03">See</E> INA sec. 101(a)(3) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(3)). </FTNT> <HD SOURCE="HD2">B. Guam-Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Visa Waiver Program (G-CNMI VWP)</HD> On May 8, 2008, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (CNRA), Public Law 110-229, 122 Stat. 754, became law. Section 702 of the CNRA extended, subject to a transition period, the immigration laws of the United States to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)  <SU>3</SU> <FTREF/> and provides for a visa waiver program for travel to Guam or the CNMI. <SU>4</SU> <FTREF/> Specifically, section 702(b)(3) of the CNRA amends the INA to provide f ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 226k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━