American Samoa (United States territory) vs United States of America
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
American Samoa (United States territory)
American Samoa Visa Atlas coverage is based on Department of Legal Affairs visitor and residency guidance plus Title 41 of the American Samoa Code. The current packet covers U.S. citizen or national entry documents, Samoa and non-U.S. visitor-permit routes, employment and family residency petitions, permanent residence, foreign investor entry permits and guest worker permits; users should check American Samoa-specific immigration rules rather than assuming mainland U.S. visa, ESTA or admission rules automatically control the territory.
- Official portal
- American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs
- Languages
- English, Samoan
- Currency
- United States dollar
United States of America
The US issues nonimmigrant visas (H-1B, L-1, O-1, F-1, J-1) and immigrant visas (employment-based EB-1 through EB-5, family-based, diversity). Policy touchpoints span USCIS, DOS consulates, DOL (for PERM/LCA), and executive-branch proclamations that can shift overnight.
- Official portal
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Languages
- English (de facto)
- Currency
- United States dollar
How American Samoa (United States territory) and United States of America differ
| Dimension | American Samoa (United States territory) | United States of America |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 9 | 14 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 3 | 5 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 1 | 6 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | Arrival on H-1B (3 years) → PERM + I-140 (1-2 years) → I-485 / Green Card (current for most categories, 7-15+ years for India EB-2) → citizenship at PR+5 years. |
| Dominant skilled visa | Employment-Based Residency Petition | H-1B Specialty Occupation |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | US$62,000/year |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | H-1B I-129 petitions commonly take 2–8 months at USCIS service centers; Premium Processing ($2,965) resolves within 15 business days. |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | A single initial H-1B petition costs around $3,600 in USCIS filing fees for a standard employer, excluding premium processing and the separate consular visa fee. |
| Official languages | English, Samoan | English (de facto) |
| Currency | United States dollar | United States dollar |
| Primary regulator | DLA | State bars |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 1 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
American Samoa (United States territory)
Employment-Based Residency Petition
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
United States of America
H-1B Specialty Occupation
- Salary minimum
- US$62,000/year
- Government fees
- A single initial H-1B petition costs around $3,600 in USCIS filing fees for a standard employer, excluding premium processing and the separate consular visa fee.
- Processing time
- H-1B I-129 petitions commonly take 2–8 months at USCIS service centers; Premium Processing ($2,965) resolves within 15 business days.
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Recent policy activity
Last 6 months. Each entry links to its primary government source.
- 12 January 2026United States of America
US: premium processing rises to $2,965 and H-1B moves to wage-weighted selection
Two USCIS changes land for the FY2027 H-1B season: the Form I-907 premium-processing fee rises with inflation, and cap-subject H-1B selection switches from a random lottery to a wage-weighted process.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Routes unique to American Samoa (United States territory)
Routes unique to United States of America
Visa routes side by side
American Samoa (United States territory) (9)
U.S. Citizen or National Entry Documents
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Entry and stay as allowed by American Samoa border and immigration rules for the traveller status.
Samoa 10-Day Visitor Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 10 days under the Samoa visitor-permit treatment, subject to the permit granted and current entry rules.
U.S. Visa Waiver 30-Day Visitor Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 30 days as allowed by the visitor permit granted under current American Samoa rules.
Non-U.S. 30-Day Sponsored Visitor Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 30 days as granted under the sponsored visitor-permit process.
Employment-Based Residency Petition
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Residency or employment-authorised status as granted by the Immigration Board, Attorney General or current petition process.
Family-Based Residency Petition
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Residency status as granted under the current petition or registration process.
Permanent Resident Status
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence status if granted under American Samoa immigration law and current board procedures.
Foreign Investor Entry Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Investor entry permission as granted under the statutory framework and current official process.
Guest Worker Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Guest worker status as granted under the statutory chapter and current Immigration Board process.
United States of America (14)
H-1B Specialty Occupation
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Initial 3 years; extendable to 6 years (longer with approved I-140).
L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Initial 3 years (1 year for new-office L-1A); extendable to 7 years total.
L-1B Intracompany Transferee (Specialised Knowledge)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Initial 3 years (1 year for new-office L-1B); extendable to 5 years total.
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 3 years initially; 1-year extensions available indefinitely.
EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (Immigrant)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence (green card).
EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Conditional 2-year residence leading to unconditional permanent residence.
E-2 Treaty Investor
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Initial up to 2 years at port of entry (5-year visa stamp for many nationalities); renewable indefinitely.
F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Duration of study (D/S); OPT up to 12 months; STEM OPT extension up to 24 additional months.
J-1 Exchange Visitor
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Program-dependent: from weeks (intern) to up to 5 years (research scholar).
TN USMCA Professionals (Canada & Mexico)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 3 years; renewable indefinitely while activity continues.
K-1 Fiancé(e) of US Citizen
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Single-entry 6 months; must marry within 90 days of entry.
Spouse of US Citizen or Green Card Holder (IR1/CR1 & F2A)
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence (conditional 2-year CR1 converts to 10-year card via I-751).
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, American Samoa (United States territory) or United States of America?+
American Samoa (United States territory)’s Employment-Based Residency Petition is the dominant skilled route; United States of America’s H-1B Specialty Occupation requires US$62,000/year. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Which immigration system has changed more recently, American Samoa (United States territory) or United States of America?+
In the last 6 months: 0 logged policy changes for American Samoa (United States territory), 1 for United States of America. See the recent-policy section above for the details, each linked to its primary source.
Does American Samoa (United States territory) or United States of America have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
United States of America has more: 5 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 3 for American Samoa (United States territory). No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.