The Northern Marianas Delegate to Congress Gregorio Kilili Sablan says progress is being made on a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration bill that is expected to give improved immigration status to long-term foreign workers in the Commonwealth.
However our CNMI correspondent says this would mean more waiting time from the date the bill becomes law, which he says could be up to 8 years.
It is expected to apply to those who have been in the CNMI for at least ten years.
Mr Sablan's announcement comes a few days after worker groups wrote to the CNMI Governor Eloy Inos, Mr Sablan and other officials urging their support for legal permanent residency for qualified non-residents.
