1. Birth Tourism In The CNMI
Henry Andersen

2. Research Question #1
Can Birth Tourism to the CNMI negatively affect the tourist industry?
Objective:
Obtain information on which Countries have the highest impact/numbers on tourism in the CNMI.
Obtain information on which Countries have the highest number of births in the CNMI.
Find out if there are laws that prevent Birth tourism in the United States/CNMI.
Find research articles/news articles on the topic.

3. Research Question #2
What is Birth Tourism and is it bad for the CNMI?
Objective:
Find academic/literature sources on the topic.
What are the primary reasons for coming to the CNMI from another country to give birth?
Interview subject matter experts in the CNMI Government and U.S. Government with knowledge on the subject.
Interview someone from another country as to their reasons for deciding to give birth in the CNMI.

4. Research Question #3
Will a change in immigration law because of birth tourism affect the tourism industry in the CNMI?
Objective:
Find out what the laws are that govern immigration to the CNMI.
Interview subject matter experts in the CNMI Government and U.S. Government with knowledge on the subject.
Obtain statistics on the amount/numbers of people from other countries that come to the CNMI as tourists and those that come as birth tourists.

5. SCHEDULED DATES FOR FINAL POWERPOINT PROPOSAL
January Proposed topic
January 29- February Research more on chosen topic and sources
February Complete persuasive draft essay & feedback from peers and instructor
March Conduct interviews and obtain any information/literature needed
April Pre writing and revisions/editing of upcoming final essay
May Final essay submission to Turnitin and Moodle site.

6. Concluding Paragraph
On November 28, 2009 the United States took over immigration from the CNMI Government. With that, laws regarding immigration to the CNMI changed. The Consolidated Natural Resources Act(CNRA), Public Law was enacted. One part of the law that was meant to help the economy was an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the CNMI a nonimmigrant visa waiver for up to 45 days for tourist from China and Russia. The CNMI is the only US Territory to have this. In the CNMI, tourism is the main source of income used by the local government to keep these islands running. One issue that has come to light since the visa waiver program has started is birth tourism. Since 2009 the numbers of foreign nationals coming here specifically to give birth has gone up every year. I plan to speak with people in the CNMI Legislature about what they are doing about this issue and I plan of speaking with US government officials on any actions they are taking. If birth tourism continues to grow at the rate it is now, the US government might decide to rescind the current visa waiver law and that might have a devastating effect on the economy of the CNMI.