United States | DHS suspends a visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals

On Oct. 29, the Department of Homeland Security announced it has suspended the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP), which allowed eligible Chinese nationals to travel visa-free to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for up to 14 days.

Key takeaways:

Visa required. Chinese nationals traveling to the CNMI for business or tourism must obtain the appropriate B-1 or B-2 visa before travel at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

EVS-TAP authorizations. DHS is no longer accepting new EVS-TAP applications and existing travel authorizations will be canceled.

Program review. DHS is conducting a full program review with the Departments of State and the Interior.

Additional information: Notice of the suspension was published in the Federal Register on Oct. 27.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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