A friend who's planning a trip to Saipan Island. Attention!
On 26 October, the United States Department of Homeland Security suspended the North Mariana Islands economic viability and security travel authorization plan. The scheme allows Chinese passport holders to apply for advance EVS-TAP pre-authorizations only and to travel to Seban for 14 days after adoption without the need for a United States visa.
But since...Chinese passports are no longer eligible for exemption from Seban as of 30 October and must be in possession of documents such as United States dollar/green cards.
It is even more noteworthy that this adjustment will affect not only future prospective candidates, but also travel authorizations that have been granted and are still in force.
This policy deserves special attention for Chinese tourists who are planning to travel to Seban Island in the near future to visit their families or businesses.
When will the waiver be suspended?
According to a pre-publication notice submitted by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to the Federal Gazette, this suspension will take effect on the third day of the official constitution at 2 p.m. American Eastern Time.
According to the constitutional arrangements originally scheduled for 27 October 2026,It is expected to enter into force at 1400 hours Eastern United States time on 30 October 2026.
However, the final date will still have to be based on the official publication of the constitutional document, and it is recommended that the updated bulletin be verified in a timely manner before the trip.
No firm end date is currently set for this suspension.
The United States Department of Homeland Security will work with the United States Department of State, the Department of the Interior and others to assess the plan, and there is no clear timetable for its subsequent recovery.
II. Has a travel authorization been requested and is it still available?
This is the most important point for attention in this policy adjustment.
According to the circular, the United States Department of Homeland Security decided to withdraw the relevant valid travel authorization previously granted.
In other words, even if you had previously applied for success, the EVS-TAP authorization in your hand has not expired and does not mean that you can continue to enter the country.
After the policy has entered into force, Chinese passengers who have not yet left the island will no longer be able to travel to Seban under their original authorization.
If air tickets, hotels and even a full tour schedule have been arranged, it is recommended that the status of the visa should be confirmed as soon as possible to avoid the impact of the change in policy.
So, what about tourists who have arrived?
The circular also provides for transitional arrangements for this component of personnel.
Prior to the entry into force of the policy, Chinese citizens who have entered the country under a valid travel authorization and who are still in a legal period of stay may continue to remain until the expiry of this authorized stay period.
But attention needs to be paid to:
This transitional arrangement allows only eligible persons to continue to complete their current stay and does not mean that the waiver policy remains in force.
If a new trip is planned after leaving the Northern Mariana Islands, the required non-immigrant United States visas will need to be obtained in advance.
III. Are United States visas required for future trips to Saipan Island?
For travellers with Chinese passports travelling to Seban Island or conducting short-term business activities, the suspension of the policy usually requires advance processing of non-immigrant United States visas for travel purposes.
Specifically:
- **Travel, family visit:** Normally, a B-2 visitor visa is required.
- ** Short-term business activities: ** A visa for B-1 visitors is normally required.
- ** A valid United States visa is already in possession: ** If the type of visa corresponds to the purpose of the trip, there is normally no need to reapply for a visa simply because of the change in policy.
It is important to remind us thatThe possession of a United States visa does not mean that entry is certain, and passengers are still required to meet the relevant entry requirements.
In addition, United States visa applications usually require a DS-160 form and an appointment for an interview as required. The specific processing process, the waiting period for appointment and the scope of application of the visa should be based on the latest official United States requirements.
If travel dates have been set in the near future, it is recommended that the status of the visa should be checked as soon as possible and that preparations should not begin until close to departure.
Are HKSAR passport holders also affected?
The suspension was aimed at the EVS-TAP sub-plan for Chinese passport holders, and not all the waivers to the Northern Mariana Islands were cancelled.
According to the circular, passengers travelling on a Hong Kong SAR passport under another Guam and Northern Mariana visa-free mechanism are not subject to an express suspension of the notice.
However, the immigration policy applicable to different passports is not the same.
The exemption arrangement applicable to mainland Chinese passports should not be suspended, and the HKSAR passport holder should not be directly disqualified.
The specific exemption and the conditions to be met shall remain subject to the official policy applicable to travel documents.
V. What is the impact of the waiver on the island ' s tourism?
The island of Seban has always been a destination for some Chinese tourists when they travel to the United States.
The EVS-TAP provides a relatively simplified way of entry for eligible Chinese passengers, compared to the regular travel to the United States that requires an advance United States visa.
The suspension of the corridor today means that some tourists need to reconsider their travel arrangements.
First of all,Visa preparation times could become a new threshold for travel.
The United States visa application involves information preparation, completion of DS-160 forms and appointments. For tourists who have not yet held a suitable United States visa, a temporary increase in the visa application process may affect the original travel plan.
Secondly, there is a need for greater prudence in air travel and hotel arrangements.
If a flight or accommodation to Saipan Island has been booked in the near future, it is recommended to confirm whether the existing documentation still meets the travel requirements and then to proceed with subsequent arrangements on the basis of actual circumstances.
From the local tourism market, this policy change is also of concern.
According to the data quoted in the United States Department of Homeland Security circular, over 3,000 Chinese citizens entered the country through EVS-TAP in the 2025 fiscal year.
On the other hand, according to data released by the Visitors' Bureau in Mariana, in August 2026, the number of local Chinese visitors reached 1,605, representing about 32 per cent of the total of 5,001 visitors in that month, and was re-established as the largest local destination.
As the importance of Chinese tourists in the local tourism market rises, the suspension of the free passage may have some impact on the travel plans of some tourists and the recovery of local tourism.
Six, we're planning to go to Seban in the near future.
If you have arranged a trip to Saipan Island, it is recommended to focus on the following:
1. Confirmation of their passports and visas.
It is important not only to look at whether the EVS-TAP mandate remains valid, but also whether it is still available when the policy enters into force.
2. If a United States visa has not yet been processed, be informed of the application as soon as possible.
Select the appropriate visa categories for the purpose of travel and prepare the application in advance and keep an eye on the appointment schedule.
3. If tickets and hotels have been booked, check the conditions for travel in a timely manner.
It is not only in the light of the past visa-free policy that one can judge that one can still board or enter.
4. To follow up on official announcements.
This moratorium does not have an end date, and future recovery and new transitional measures will require further official information.
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