Proposed Changes for Guam-CNMI Travel Form I-736
The government wants to update a form used by some visitors to Guam and the CNMI, and they want your ideas.
Affects: Other · Source: Federal Register · Action may be needed
What happened
The U.S. government is thinking about changing a form called I-736. This form is used by some people who want to visit Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) without a regular visa. These changes are just a proposal right now, meaning they are not final.
The government agency in charge is U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). They sent their ideas for the form to another important office, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB needs to look at and approve these changes before they can become official.
Before OMB makes a decision, the government wants to hear from you. They have shared their plan in a public document called the Federal Register. This allows regular people and other government groups to share their thoughts and ideas about the proposed changes to the form.
The bigger picture
Before this new proposal, people from certain countries could visit Guam and the CNMI for a short time without needing a full visa. They would fill out Form I-736 to give their travel information. This special program helps make it easier for visitors to travel to these beautiful U.S. islands in the Pacific Ocean.
The government says it needs to update this Form I-736. They want to make sure the questions on the form are still useful and that they are collecting the right information. They also need to follow special laws, like the Paperwork Reduction Act, about how government agencies ask for information from the public.
What this means for you
Visitors to Guam and CNMI
If you plan to visit Guam or the CNMI using the visa waiver program, the form you fill out might change in the future. The government is reviewing what information they ask for on Form I-736. This could mean the form becomes clearer, or it might ask for different details about your trip or background.
All immigrants
This proposal does not directly change rules for most immigrants. It only affects a specific form used by certain visitors to Guam and the CNMI for short trips. Your current immigration process or status, like a Green Card application or H1B visa, is not impacted by these proposed changes.
Employers
This proposal does not directly affect employers in the U.S. It focuses on a form used by visitors, not workers or employment-based visas. Businesses and employers do not need to do anything because of this specific government announcement.
What you should do
- If you are a visitor who uses Form I-736, or if you are interested in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, you can look for the full announcement in the Federal Register. You can then share your thoughts on the proposed changes during the public comment period. Otherwise, for most people, there is nothing you need to do right now — this is just good to know.
Key dates
- 2026-08-04: Government published its proposal for Form I-736 in the Federal Register.
- TBD: Deadline for public comments (not specified in this truncated text).
Words explained
- Form I-736
- This is a paper or online document that some visitors fill out to enter Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands without a regular visa.
- Visa Waiver Program
- This is a special program that lets people from certain countries visit a place for a short time without needing a full visa.
- Federal Register
- This is like a daily newspaper where the U.S. government publishes all its new rules, proposed changes, and official notices.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- This is the government agency that protects our country's borders and handles people and goods coming into the U.S.
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
- This is a government office that helps the President manage the federal budget and reviews how agencies collect information.
Common questions
Will I need a visa to visit Guam or CNMI now?
No, this proposal does not change the visa waiver program itself. It only talks about updating the form used within that program. If you were eligible to visit without a regular visa before, you likely still are.
When will the new Form I-736 be used?
The announcement does not say yet. This is just a proposal, and it needs to go through several steps. The government needs to review all public comments and get final approval from the Office of Management and Budget first. It will take some time before any changes become official and are put into use.
How can I share my thoughts on these changes?
The government has published this proposal to get comments from the public. The source text mentions a public comment period, but it does not provide specific details on how or where to submit your comments. You would need to check the full Federal Register notice for complete instructions on how to participate.
This is a plain-English explanation, not legal advice. Confirm with the official source or a licensed immigration attorney.