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.