A new Federal Register notice detailing DHS’s plan to automate and expand vetting for Chinese EVS‑TAP travelers has prompted the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce to review potential impacts on the CNMI’s tourism and business sectors.
The Aug. 4 notice outlines proposed revisions to the Guam‑CNMI Visa Waiver Program and EVS‑TAP, including advance electronic submission of traveler information, prescreening by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and additional vetting questions for Chinese nationals traveling under EVS‑TAP.
MVA board member Joe Guerrero said the agency is still reviewing the announcement and emphasized that any major changes to EVS‑TAP must be formally communicated to the CNMI government, given the program’s role in supporting Chinese arrivals and tourism recovery.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce echoed that assessment, saying the business community welcomes the continued operation of the visa‑waiver program and is encouraged that the proposed changes “preserve this important avenue for eligible international visitors.”
“The program remains important to our tourism economy, and its continuation provides needed certainty for our tourism industry and business community,” Chamber President Joshua Wise said.
Wise said the Chamber’s review indicates that DHS and CBP are building on existing vetting procedures while introducing new requirements tied to the transition to a mandatory automated system. “Vetting of travelers is not new; however, advance electronic submission and the additional EVS‑TAP vetting questions appear to expand and formalize the process,” he said.
The proposed revisions remain open for public comment through Sept. 3, and both organizations said they expect further clarification once DHS issues implementation guidance. CBP has also signaled plans to phase out the paper Form I‑736 and provide carriers with board/no‑board determinations before departure.
Wise said tourism operators should anticipate procedural adjustments but cautioned against assuming major disruptions until federal agencies release more details.
