The CW-1 Nonimmigrant Visa Program

 An attorney and business leader with diverse interests, Deanne Siemer is an elected life member of the American Law Institute and the administrative head of Goose Hill Farm. From 2006 to 2009, Deanne Siemer’s served as a hearing officer with the Department of Labor for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

During her tenure with the Department of Labor, the CNMI government issued more than 20,000 work permits for foreign workers through a newly passed umbrella program. Since November 28, 2009, foreign nationals have been eligible to work in the CNMI with a CW-1 visa. Although officials reserve the right to extend the CNMI program as necessary, it is currently slated to end on Dec. 31, 2029.

The CW-1 visa program is not intended for permanent immigrants to the CNMI. Rather, it is for CNMI-only transitional workers who intend to work in the commonwealth for a specific period of time. It specifically targets workers who cannot obtain work visas under other nonimmigrant categories.

How the American Law Institute Enhances Legal Practice

An experienced trial lawyer, Deanne Siemer is a member of SRS Online, a resource for attorneys seeking to improve their advocacy skills. Deanne Siemer maintains her acumen through membership in the American Law Institute (ALI), an organization devoted to improving legal practice.

At its founding in 1923, ALI faced widespread confusion about the principles of common law and inconsistency in the administration of justice. With this is mind, ALI has created numerous Projects to refine the letter of the law.

Progressing through a carefully planned sequence, Projects fall into three categories: restatements, principles, and codes. Restatements, meant for use in courts, clarify existing law; they do not suggest specific statutory language but present concepts flexibly. Principles are intended for legislatures and agencies and sometimes for courts in areas too new for a body of law to be created. Codes are also meant for lawmakers and prescribe precise language.

Acting on ALI member suggestions, Reporters determine the content of a Project. The material is then reviewed by Advisers - experts in that domain. Also providing input is the Members Consultative Group, who are not necessarily subject experts but offer an outside perspective on how the intended audience would receive the information.

Currently, ALI is developing some 20 Projects on topics ranging from children and the law and American Indian law to policing and corporate governance. For more information on the ALI’s wo0rk, please visit www.ali.org.