1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Northern Mariana Islands Long-Term Legal Residents Relief Act . 2. Long-term legal residents of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Section 6(e) of the Joint Resolution entitled A Joint Resolution to approve the Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, and for other purposes , approved March 24, 1976 ( 48 U.S.C. 1806 ), is amended by adding at the end the following: (6) Special provision regarding long-term residents of the Commonwealth (A) CNMI resident status An alien described in subparagraph (B) may, upon the application of the alien, be admitted in CNMI Resident status to the Commonwealth subject to the following rules: (i) The alien shall be treated as an alien lawfully admitted to the Commonwealth only, including permitting entry to and exit from the Commonwealth, until the earlier of the date on which— (I) the alien ceases to reside in the Commonwealth; or (II) the alien’s status is adjusted under section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1255 ) to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in accordance with all applicable eligibility requirements. (ii) The Secretary of Homeland Security— (I) shall establish a process for such alien to apply for CNMI Resident status during the 180-day period beginning on a date determined by the Secretary but not later than the first day of the sixth month after the date of the enactment of this paragraph