Across the Pacific, US politics could soon complicate a popular shortcut used by many mainland Chinese travellers to reach America’s Western Pacific territories. Senator Rick Scott on 19 February introduced the ‘One Nation, One Visa Policy Act’, aimed at barring citizens of the People’s Republic of China from entering Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) without a traditional US visa.
The move targets the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, which currently permits Chinese tourists and short-term business travellers to stay for up to 14 days on direct flights—a policy credited with fuelling hotel and casino investment in Saipan over the past decade. Scott argues the waiver is a national-security loophole, alleging ‘exploitation’ by organised crime and labour-trafficking rings.
![US Senator Seeks to End Visa-Free Access for Chinese Nationals to Guam and CNMI]()
Should the bill gain traction in Congress, mobility planners must reroute travellers through standard B-1/B-2 visas obtained at US consulates in China—a process that still suffers from multi-month appointment backlogs. CNMI tourism officials warn that eliminating the waiver could slash annual Chinese arrivals (153,000 in 2025) by up to 80 %, imperilling thousands of hospitality jobs.
For travellers and corporates suddenly facing that longer application route, VisaHQ’s China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) can streamline the switch to full B-1/B-2 processing—pre-checking documentation, securing the earliest available interview slots and tracking passports door-to-door—minimising disruption should the waiver disappear.
While passage is far from certain—the Department of the Interior has historically defended the programme as vital to the islands’ economy—the proposal underscores how geopolitical tensions continue to inject uncertainty into Chinese outbound mobility. Companies with incentive trips or rotational staff based in Saipan or Guam should monitor the bill’s progress and prepare contingency visa plans.
The move targets the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, which currently permits Chinese tourists and short-term business travellers to stay for up to 14 days on direct flights—a policy credited with fuelling hotel and casino investment in Saipan over the past decade. Scott argues the waiver is a national-security loophole, alleging ‘exploitation’ by organised crime and labour-trafficking rings.
Should the bill gain traction in Congress, mobility planners must reroute travellers through standard B-1/B-2 visas obtained at US consulates in China—a process that still suffers from multi-month appointment backlogs. CNMI tourism officials warn that eliminating the waiver could slash annual Chinese arrivals (153,000 in 2025) by up to 80 %, imperilling thousands of hospitality jobs.
For travellers and corporates suddenly facing that longer application route, VisaHQ’s China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) can streamline the switch to full B-1/B-2 processing—pre-checking documentation, securing the earliest available interview slots and tracking passports door-to-door—minimising disruption should the waiver disappear.
While passage is far from certain—the Department of the Interior has historically defended the programme as vital to the islands’ economy—the proposal underscores how geopolitical tensions continue to inject uncertainty into Chinese outbound mobility. Companies with incentive trips or rotational staff based in Saipan or Guam should monitor the bill’s progress and prepare contingency visa plans.
