WASHINGTON: The United States will suspend visa-free travel for eligible Chinese nationals to the Northern Mariana Islands on Friday, October 30, citing security and immigration concerns.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the change will affect new applicants and travellers who already hold approved travel authorisations.
Chinese visitors lawfully present in the US territory may complete their permitted stays. Future visits will require an appropriate nonimmigrant visa.
The Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorisation Program (EVS-TAP) allowed prescreened Chinese nationals to visit for up to 14 days.
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It applied only to the Northern Mariana Islands, excluding Guam and the US mainland. DHS said more than 3,000 Chinese nationals used the program during fiscal year 2025.
Officials cited concerns about possible espionage near US military facilities and unauthorised travel to Guam. The department referred to earlier cases involving the smuggling of Chinese nationals between the territories.
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Those incidents predated EVS-TAP and involved earlier immigration arrangements. Republican Senator Mike Lee welcomed the suspension after previously criticising the programme over what he called birth tourism.
DHS warned that easier entry could facilitate travel intended to obtain US citizenship for children born in the territory. However, the department did not provide figures establishing how many EVS-TAP visitors engaged in that practice.
Officials acknowledged that the suspension could affect tourism businesses and travellers. DHS will review the program in consultation with the State and Interior departments. It has not announced when the suspension might end.
