Congressional Dels. Kimberlyn King-Hinds of the Northern Marianas and James Moylan of Guam have introduced legislation to add the Philippines to the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program and expand eligibility to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Mongolia.
The delegates say the Marianas Tourism Advancement Act of 2026 would create new economic opportunities for the islands and strengthen ties throughout the Indo-Pacific.
The legislation also establishes additional safeguards and transparency requirements governing any future suspension of a participating country.
Under the bill, the federal Department of Homeland Security could suspend a country’s participation after making a written determination that admission presents immigration, law enforcement, public safety or national security concerns.
But Homeland Security would also have to assess the economic effects on the Marianas, and consult with other federal agencies and the island governors to see if other measures could address concerns without suspending a country.
The Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program allows eligible foreign nationals to travel to the two territories for short-term business or tourism without obtaining a traditional U.S. visa. Travelers can stay for up to 45 days, but they can’t go to other parts of the United States.
The program currently includes eligible nationals of Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Naoero, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
