US to suspend visa-free travel program for Chinese visitors to Northern Marianas
The change is due to take effect on 31 October and will cover both new applicants and travelers with existing authorizations, RNZ reported.
The US Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will suspend a visa-free travel program for eligible Chinese visitors to the Northern Mariana Islands from 31 October, affecting both new applicants and people with approved authorizations, according to RNZ. Future visitors will generally need an appropriate US visa unless another lawful exception applies.
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program, or EVS-TAP, allows eligible Chinese nationals to visit the US territory for up to 14 days without a visa. Travelers using it cannot continue to Guam or other parts of the United States. Chinese nationals already legally in the islands under the program may stay until their authorized period ends, RNZ reported.
Why DHS says it is suspending EVS-TAP
DHS cited national security and law enforcement concerns, including the possibility of espionage targeting US military installations in the region, RNZ reported. The department pointed to previous cases of Chinese nationals being smuggled from Saipan to Guam; it said some were later encountered near sensitive military facilities. Those are the department’s stated reasons for the decision.
The department also raised concerns about birth tourism, money laundering and labor abuses associated with Chinese-linked businesses, including the former Imperial Pacific casino operation on Saipan, according to RNZ. DHS said the potential effect on businesses that depend on Chinese tourists was outweighed by its security concerns. RNZ reported that more than 3,000 Chinese nationals entered the islands through EVS-TAP during the 2025 fiscal year, citing the department’s figure.
What changes for travelers on 31 October
EVS-TAP became operational in February 2025. Immigration services company Envoy Global says it replaced an earlier parole policy for Chinese nationals traveling to the Northern Mariana Islands. The program offered a restricted route for eligible, pre-screened visitors, with a 14-day stay limit and no onward travel to Guam, the US mainland or other US destinations under its terms.
The announced suspension covers existing EVS-TAP approvals as well as new applications, RNZ reported. That means an approved authorization will not itself provide a route for a future visit once the suspension takes effect. DHS plans to review the program with the State and Interior departments, RNZ said; the department has announced no timetable for reinstating it.
Read in depth: World
Saudi-led pact nations hold Tehran talks to stop war reigniting
Defence pact members Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan send top officials to Iran for first high-level contact since war spread to kingdom and Yemen.
India’s Supreme Court questions Rajasthan over Jojari river pollution and mining leases
At an October 26 hearing, the court challenged the state over mining leases in areas where illegal mining had been detected and sought a funded river restoration proposal.
Sources and context
- US suspends visa-free travel for Chinese visitors to Northern MarianasRNZ, reporting by Mark Rabago
- DHS Suspends Visa-Free Travel Program for Chinese Nationals Visiting CNMIEnvoy Global, Inc.
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.