Why CNMI Grants Visa Waivers to Chinese Nationals, Not the U.S. Mainland

(COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS) Chinese nationals can still enter the U.S. territory of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands without a U.S. visa, under a special local entry program that remains in force in 2025. The arrangement, known locally as the CNMI visa waiver under the Guam-CNMI framework, lets Chinese citizens visit the islands after completing a short form before travel. It does not apply to the U.S. mainland, and it does not make China part of the federal Visa Waiver Program. Officials say the policy supports tourism and business in the islands while keeping separate, stricter checks in place for travel to the rest of the United States 🇺🇸.

How the CNMI local waiver differs from the federal Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

The federal Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of select countries to visit the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. China is not included in the federal VWP because of national security concerns, high overstay rates, and limited information sharing. That exclusion remains unchanged.

By contrast, the CNMI uses a separate local mechanism tied to the Guam-CNMI arrangement. This mechanism permits Chinese nationals to enter the CNMI for short stays by filing the local Form I-736 before arrival.

• Travelers must show a valid Chinese passport and the completed form at CNMI ports of entry.
• The waiver covers trips limited to the CNMI (and, where applicable, Guam) and does not authorize onward travel to the continental United States or other U.S. jurisdictions.
• Separate visas are required for travel to the U.S. mainland; those applications undergo stricter vetting.

2025 U.S. mainland policy context

Washington has tightened screening for Chinese nationals seeking entry to the broader United States. In 2025, the U.S. Department of State under Secretary Marco Rubio announced increased visa scrutiny and revocations, especially for students and individuals tied to sensitive fields or the Chinese Communist Party.

• These steps affect mainland travel but have not altered the CNMI’s local waiver.
• Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests the islands’ separate track is an economic lifeline for a tourism-based local economy, while mainland policy remains focused on espionage and technology protection concerns.

Practical operation and enforcement

CNMI officials say the local policy helps the islands host short-term visitors without the long wait times and denial risks common in U.S. consular processing. At the same time, federal authorities keep control over who may move beyond the islands.

• Chinese nationals admitted under the CNMI visa waiver cannot use it to enter the U.S. mainland.
• Airlines and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) block boarding for onward flights that require a U.S. visa.

The islands’ process centers on the pre-travel form and arrival screening, not consular interviews. Any false statement on the form can lead to refusal of entry and future travel problems.

Important: The CNMI waiver is location-specific. Admission under this program does not grant permission to travel to the continental U.S. or other U.S. territories.

Security debate and strategic context

The CNMI’s position is unusual because of its strategic setting in the Western Pacific. The islands host sensitive U.S. military activities and hold deep World War II history.

• Critics worry a local waiver could invite security risks.
• Supporters argue that CNMI port entry checks, combined with the bar on mainland travel, balance local economic needs and national security goals.

So far, federal agencies have kept the local program in place.

Fees and cost differences

Recent 2025 fee changes highlight the divide between mainland and CNMI travel:

• New charges like a Visa Integrity Fee or updated EVUS costs apply to Chinese travelers heading to the U.S. mainland on visitor visas.
• These fees don’t apply to travelers using the CNMI local waiver, which doesn’t involve a U.S. consular visa.

How to use the CNMI waiver — step-by-step

For Chinese nationals planning short visits to the islands, the process is straightforward:

1. Hold a valid Chinese passport.
2. Complete Form I-736 (Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program Application) before travel.
3. Present the completed form and passport upon arrival in the CNMI.
4. Remain within the islands for the permitted stay, typically up to 90 days.
5. Follow all local laws and U.S. federal rules while in the CNMI.

Travelers can find the official form here: Form I-736 – Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Information. Filling out the form accurately is essential.

Limits and common misconceptions

Policy specialists emphasize this arrangement does not weaken broader U.S. screening. Instead, it creates a narrow, location-specific option that supports the CNMI economy without opening the mainland.

• If a traveler wants to attend a conference in Saipan and then fly to Los Angeles, a mainland visa is still required, and standard U.S. vetting applies.
• You cannot use the CNMI entry to visit family on the U.S. mainland, attend school in California, or start a job in New York. Those activities require proper visas and strict vetting outside the islands.
• CNMI entry is intended for short, temporary visits with a return ticket and clear plans to depart on time.

Economic importance to the CNMI

Local leaders back the waiver because it drives spending in hotels, restaurants, tours, and retail. Examples of who benefits:

• Families saving for a beach trip
• Small tour operators depending on group bookings
• Hospitality workers reliant on visitor numbers

During periods when mainland visa approvals slow, the CNMI’s model offers a more predictable path for short trips that begin and end in the islands.

Ongoing monitoring and outlook

Federal officials signaled no change to the islands’ waiver as of September 1, 2025. Analysts say the program will remain under watch, especially given rising U.S.–China tensions.

• If risks grow (for example wider espionage concerns or misuse of the waiver), the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department could revisit the program terms.
• For now, the local entry path remains available.

Final guidance for travelers

• Match the trip purpose to the correct path: use the local waiver for island travel only, or the standard U.S. visa process for travel to the mainland or other U.S. jurisdictions.
• Check requirements close to departure; rules can change quickly.
• Confirm your travel authorization with airlines to avoid denied boarding or refusal at the border.

The federal baseline remains firm: China is outside the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, and the State Department cites ongoing security concerns and insufficient data sharing. Readers can review federal VWP rules on the State Department’s official page: Visa Waiver Program.

As of now, the message is steady: the CNMI visa waiver remains a unique exception inside the U.S. system—limited in scope, important to a small island economy, and separate from the federal Visa Waiver Program that still excludes China.