Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# work visa????? american citizen??? Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / American Samoa
nomadic69 18:40 UTC 12 Apr 2008 | Can anyone tell me, am I, as an American citizen required to purchase a roundtrip ticket/forwarding ticket if it is my intention to move to live and work in AS? I seem to be getting conflicting information. I guess I'll just buy my R/T to HNL. I can't wait....any tips anyone? Thanks! |
silvanocat 14:15 UTC 13 Apr 2008 | First I need to say that I don't feel good about posting here since the downgrade of the Thorntree and their censorship of posts critical of it. (Many of my posts regarding the new TT have been "archived" while older posts not relating to the TT remain.) When I was in AS on vacation last November I asked immigration (just because I was curious) what would happen if I arrived there and wanted to stay permanently. The lady said that I would need a place to stay. That was something that they were concerned about. There was someone behind me so I could not ask whether having a place to stay meant a motel until I found a permanent place or a permanent place. She also said that it was a good idea that I have a return ticket. She concluded by saying that after I lived there for a year I could apply for permanent residency. Tips? Never leave "home" without an umbrella/rain gear. Murphy's in Samoa has some excellent information and links to other living in AS blogs. | 1
raro 10:17 UTC 14 Apr 2008 | Well, you get a tourist visa when you arrive, and work is not permitted on that, as far as I know. But this can be checked via their official website, whcih should be easy to find. | 2
pago 17:25 UTC 14 Apr 2008 | Technically, A US Citizen only needs a passport to enter American Samoa. They may or may not ask for a onward/return tkt? A US Citizen doesn't need permission to stay or work in American Samoa. This was settled in the mid 1970's when a contract employee from Alabama, working at the ETV Project, decided to stay on the Island after his contract was up. He's still there..... | 3
raro 05:36 UTC 16 Apr 2008 | Pago---I thought I had read about problems there about three or four yrs ago. Something about the local govt being given more power over immigration/visitors, etc. , and thus deciding to restrict some people who they didn't like, i.e. ask them to leave after they were there for a month or two. | 4
pago 17:43 UTC 17 Apr 2008 | A US Citizen can live and work there forever. I know the local govt. does have trouble with the "overstayers" from Samoa. Some American Samoans sponsor folks from the Philippines etc., and they do tend to get removed when their visas run out. (If they can be found). It seems that there is a Philippino dress shop every 200 yeards on Tutuila. | 5