article: entitled ``A Joint Resolution to approve the `Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America', and for other purposes'', approved March 24, 1976 (48 U.S.C. 1806(e)), as added by section 702 of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-229; 122 Stat. 854)), is amended-- (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph (B),'' and adding ``subparagraphs (B) and (C),''; (B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D); and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: ``(B) Special rule.-- ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (D), no alien who is described in clause (ii) may be removed from the United States on the grounds that such alien's presence in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is in violation of section 212(a)(6)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(A)), prior to the date that is 5 years after the transition program effective date. ``(ii) Alien described.--An alien described in this clause is an alien who-- ``(I) on May 8, 2008, was a resident of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and was-- ``(aa) a permanent resident (as that term is defined in part 5-40.0-201 of the Northern Mariana Islands Administrative Code); ``(bb) an immediate relative of a citizen (as those terms are defined in such part 5-40.0-201); or ``(cc) the parent of a citizen (as that term is defined in such part 5-40.0- 201) who was under 21 years of age; and ``(II) on the transition program effective date, was lawfully present in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or only temporarily absent from the Commonwealth pursuant to the immigration laws of the Commonwealth. ``(C) Special nonimmigrant visa for parents.-- ``(i) In general.--An alien parent described in subparagraph (B)(ii)(cc) is eligible for a special nonimmigrant visa issued pursuant to this subparagraph. Such visa shall-- ``(I) grant the alien all of the privileges granted to an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, except that the alien shall reside in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and ``(II) be valid until the earlier of-- ``(aa) the date that the child of the alien petitions for an adjustment of status for the alien to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence (as that term is defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20))); ``(bb) the date that the alien ceases to reside in the Commonwealth; or ``(cc) November 28, 2014. ``(ii) Petitions for adjustment of status.--A child of an alien parent described in subparagraph (B)(ii)(cc) may petition for an adjustment of status for the alien parent as described in clause (i)(II)(aa) during the period beginning on January 1, 2014, and ending on November 28, 2014, regardless of the age of the child.''. (2) Construction.--Such paragraph (1), as amended by paragraph (1) of this subsection, is further amended by adding at the end the following: ``(E) Construction.--This paragraph shall be construed to permit an alien who may not be removed 212(a)(6)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(A)) under subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph to leave the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for a temporary absence and return to the Commonwealth pursuant to the entrance permit issued to the alien by the Commonwealth.''. (3) Employment authorization.--Paragraph (2) of such section 6(e), is amended-- (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and moving such clauses two ems to the right; (B) by striking ``An alien'' and inserting the following: ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an alien''; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(B) Special rule.--An alien who is described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii) shall be considered authorized by the Secretary of Homeland Security to be employed in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands until the date that is 5 years after the transition program effective date.''. (4) Registration.--Paragraph 3 of such section 6(e) is amended to read as follows: ``(3) Registration.-- ``(A) Requirement for registration.--Beginning not later than November 28, 2009, and on an on-going basis, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall require any alien present in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on or after the transition period effective date to register with the Secretary. ``(B) Schedule for initial registration.--The Secretary shall complete the initial registration of all aliens required to register under subparagraph (A) not later than February 1, 2010. ``(C) Inapplicability of prohibition on removal and employment authorization.--Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to any alien who fails to register as required by this paragraph. ``(D) Cooperation.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall provide to the Secretary all Commonwealth immigration records or other information that the Secretary deems necessary to assist in the implementation of this paragraph or other provisions of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-229; 122 Stat. 854) or any amendment made by that Act. ``(E) Construction with the ina.--Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to modify or limit the application of section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1302) or any other provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) relating to the registration of aliens.''. SEC. 2. ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH. Section 6 of the Joint Resolution entitled ``A Joint Resolution to approve the `Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America', and for other purposes'', approved March 24, 1976 (48 U.S.C. 1806(e)), as added by section 702 of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-229; 122 Stat. 854)) is amended-- (1) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), and (h), as subsections (g), (h), and (i), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following: ``(f) Adjustment of Status for Permanent Residents of the Commonwealth.-- ``(1) Special nonimmigrant visa.--An alien who was, on May 8, 2008, described in part 5-40.1-200 of the Administrative Code of the Northern Mariana Islands (as in effect on such date) is eligible for a special nonimmigrant visa issued pursuant to this paragraph. Such visa shall-- ``(A) grant the alien all of the privileges granted to an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, except that the alien shall reside in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and ``(B) be valid until the earlier of-- ``(i) the date on which the alien adjusts status under paragraph (2); or ``(ii) the date on which the alien ceases to reside in the Commonwealth. ``(2) Adjustment of status.--An alien is eligible for an adjustment of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence (as that term is defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20))), pursuant to this paragraph, if the alien-- ``(A) was, on May 8, 2008, described in part 5- 40.1-200 of the Administrative Code of the Northern Mariana Islands (as in effect on such date); and ``(B) applies for such status during the period beginning on January 1, 2014, and ending on November 28, 2014.''. SEC. 3. NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS VISITOR ENTRY PROGRAM TRANSITION. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 705(b) of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (48 U.S.C. 1806(b)), the amendments made by section 702(b) of such Act shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the transition program effective date described in section 6(a) of Public Law 94-241 (48 U.S.C. 1806(a)) (as added by section 702(a) of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008). In a case in which the transition program effective date has been modified under paragraph (3) of such section 6(a) before the date of the enactment of this Act, such amendments shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the modified date. (b) Treatment of CNMI Visitor Entry Program.--During the 180-day period referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall administer the visitor entry program of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands consistent with the provisions of Commonwealth law governing the program that were in effect on the day before the commencement of such period. SEC. 4. FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION FEE REDUCTION FOR RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH. (a) In General.--The Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-229; 122 Stat. 754) is amended by inserting after section 703 the following: ``SEC. 703A. FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION FEE REDUCTION FOR RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH. ``(a) Family-Based Immigration Benefit Application and Petition Fees.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall reduce the fees for family-based immigration benefit applications and petitions (including associated fees, such as fees for fingerprinting or supporting documents) collected from residents of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands who had immediate relative status pursuant to the immigration laws of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on May 8, 2008. ``(2) Amount of reduction.--The amount of the reduction shall be established by the Secretary of Homeland Security. It shall be a percentage reduction that is as least as great as the difference (expressed as a percentage) between the average per capita income in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the average national per capita income in the United States as a whole (as determined according to the most recent data available from the Bureau of the Census). ``(b) Requirements for Sponsor's Affidavit of Support.--In the case of a resident of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands who had immediate relative status pursuant to the immigration laws of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on May 8, 2008, section 213A(f)(1)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1183a(f)(1)(E)) shall not apply. ``(c) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this section and shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2014.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (16 U.S.C. 1 note) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 703 the following: ``703A. Family-based immigration fee reduction for residents of the Commonwealth.''. SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATES. (a) Section 3.--Section 3 shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Section 4.--Section 703A of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, as added by section 4 of this Act, shall be effective in accordance with subsection (c) of such section 703A. (c) Other Provisions.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendments made by this Act shall take effect as if included in the enactment of subtitle A of title VII of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008.
summary: Prohibits, subject to an existing provision, an alien who on May 8, 2008, was a resident of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) from being removed from the United States on the grounds of illegal presence in the CNMI prior to the date that is five years after the transition program effective date if such alien is lawfully present in the CNMI on such date and is: (1) a permanent resident of the CNMI; (2) an immediate relative of a citizen; or (3) the parent of a citizen who was under 21 years old. Makes such an alien parent eligible for a special nonimmigrant visa. Specifies conditions for such visa, including the requirement that the parent reside in the CNMI. Makes an alien who, as of May 8, 2008, was subject to CNMI immigration regulations eligible for a special nonimmigrant visa. Provides that such visa shall: (1) grant the alien all the privileges of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence except that the alien must reside in the CNMI; and (2) be valid until the earlier of the date on which the alien adjusts to permanent resident status or the date on which the alien ceases to reside in the CNMI. Makes an alien who, as of May 8, 2008, was subject to CNMI immigration regulations eligible for adjustment to permanent resident status if such alien applies for adjustment between January 1, 2014-November 28, 2014. Extends the effective date of the CNMI visitor entry program for 180 days. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to administer the program during such 180-day period consistent with CNMI provisions governing the program that were in effect prior to the commencement of such period. Amends the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 to: (1) direct the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of DHS to reduce the fees for family-based immigration benefit applications and petitions collected from CNMI residents who had immediate relative status pursuant to CNMI immigration laws as of May 8, 2008; and (2) waive related sponsor income requirements.