Transition to U.S. immigration law in the CNMI began on November 28, 2009. On that date, portions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and other U.S. immigration laws took effect in the CNMI. Prior to that date, SSA followed only CNMI law in determining the immigration status of CNMI aliens. The U.S. immigration laws was scheduled to replace the CNMI’s immigration laws by December 31, 2014. However, on June 3, 2014, the CW-1 program was extended until December 31, 2019.

For purposes of this policy, a CNMI alien is a person who was born outside the CNMI and does not have evidence of U.S. citizenship for an SSN card per RM 10210.500. CNMI aliens must submit verifiable evidence of current employment-authorized immigration status before they may obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) card.

Accept evidence of current employment authorization that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued as acceptable evidence of current employment authorized immigration status for SSN card applications filed in the CNMI. For a description of acceptable employment, authorization evidence see in RM 10210.674.

See details:

RM 10210.674 Evidence of Employment Authorized Immigration Status issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for an Alien in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for an SSN