I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4397 
To clarify the transitional status of certain aliens not provided for in subtitle 
A of title VII of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 16, 2009 
Mr. SABLAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the 
Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To clarify the transitional status of certain aliens not pro-
vided for in subtitle A of title VII of the Consolidated 
Natural Resources Act of 2008, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. AVOIDING UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF 
THE CONSOLIDATED NATURAL RESOURCES 
ACT OF 2008. 
Section 702 of the Consolidated Natural Resources 
Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–229; 122 Stat. 854), is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
07:42 Dec 18, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4397.IH
H4397
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(l) SPECIAL PROVISION TO PROTECT CONTINUED 
COMMONWEALTH RESIDENCE OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF 
LONG-TERM RESIDENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An alien described in para-
graph (2) shall be admitted as an immigrant to the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 
subject to the following rules: 
‘‘(A) The alien shall be treated as an im-
migrant described in section 101(a)(20) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101(a)(20)) only in the Commonwealth (in-
cluding entry to and exit from the Common-
wealth) until the alien ceases to permanently re-
side in the Commonwealth, or, if otherwise eli-
gible, has adjusted status under this section or 
section 245 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1255), 
whichever is earlier. Unless otherwise author-
ized, such an alien shall not be permitted to 
travel to, or reside in, any part of the United 
States (as defined in section 101(a)(38) of such 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(38))), other than the 
Commonwealth. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary of State and the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security may, in the discre-
tion of each such Secretary, reduce fees col-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
07:42 Dec 18, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4397.IH
H4397
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with BILLS
lected from the alien, and shall, where applica-
ble, waive subparagraphs (B)(ii) and (C)(ii) of 
sections 212(a)(4) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 
1182(a)(4)). 
‘‘(C) The Secretary of Homeland Security 
determines that the alien is otherwise admis-
sible under section 212(a) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)). 
‘‘(D) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and 
(C), the alien shall be eligible to apply to re-
ceive an immigrant visa or adjust status to that 
of an alien lawfully admitted to the United 
States for permanent residence beginning on 
January 1, 2015. Upon the granting of an im-
migrant visa or permanent residence to such an 
alien, the Secretary of State shall not reduce 
the total number of immigrant visas otherwise 
available. 
‘‘(2) ALIENS
DESCRIBED.—An alien is de-
scribed in this paragraph if, on May 8, 2008, was 
residing in the Commonwealth and was— 
‘‘(A) a person born in the Northern Mar-
iana Islands between January 1, 1974, and 
January 9, 1978; 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
07:42 Dec 18, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4397.IH
H4397
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) a permanent resident as that term is 
defined in section 4303 of title 3 of the North-
ern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Code (as 
in effect on May 8, 2008); 
‘‘(C) an immediate relative of a United 
States citizen (notwithstanding the age of the 
United States citizen), as that term is defined 
in section 4303 of title 3 of the Northern Mar-
iana Islands Commonwealth Code (as in effect 
on May 8, 2008); or 
‘‘(D) the spouse or child of an alien de-
scribed in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
07:42 Dec 18, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4397.IH
H4397
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with BILLS