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American Samoa (United States territory) · work sponsored

Employment-Based Residency Petition

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 6 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

American Samoa employment-based residency route for foreign nationals whose right to live and work depends on an approved local petition.

Requires sponsorshipDoes not lead to permanent residencyResidency or employment-authorised status as granted by the Immigration Board, Attorney General or current petition process.
Processing time
Confirm current P-45 or employment petition forms, employer evidence, sponsor requirements, fees, board timing and registration-card handling with the Immigration Office.
Government fees
Confirm current employment petition, registration, board, card and renewal fees with the Department of Legal Affairs or Immigration Office.
Typical duration
Residency or employment-authorised status as granted by the Immigration Board, Attorney General or current petition process.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗

In short

As of 30 June 2026, the Employment-Based Residency Petition for American Samoa (United States territory) is a sponsor-led American Samoa immigration route. Sources: official American Samoa (United States territory) government pages, reviewed 30 June 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/american-samoa/employment-based-residency-petition#answer

What is the Employment-Based Residency Petition in American Samoa (United States territory)?

Employment-Based Residency Petition is a sponsor-led American Samoa route. Indicative government fees are Confirm current employment petition, registration, board, card and renewal fees with the Department of Legal Affairs or Immigration Office; indicative processing time is Confirm current P-45 or employment petition forms, employer evidence, sponsor requirements, fees, board timing and registration-card handling with the Immigration Office; typical duration is Residency or employment-authorised status as granted by the Immigration Board, Attorney General or current petition process. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs on 30 June 2026.

Overview

The Department of Legal Affairs residency classification page identifies employment-based petition handling, and Title 41 bars employment of an alien unless the Immigration Board has issued a registration card or the Attorney General has issued a written waiver. This is the main American Samoa work-and-residence route to check before local employment begins.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm the current employment-based petition category with Department of Legal Affairs guidance.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Prepare employer, sponsor, identity and job evidence.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    File through the Immigration Office or board process and pay current fees.

  4. After approval

    Start work only when the required registration card, waiver or approved status authorises it.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Employment-Based Residency Petition, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Employment-Based Residency Petition instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to American Samoa

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Read residency classification guidance ↗

    Use this official American Samoa source to confirm current entry, sponsorship, petition, permit, fee, status, employment and filing requirements before travelling, applying, working, investing or relying on residence status.

    American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs · verified

  2. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Check employment of aliens statute ↗

    Use this official American Samoa source to confirm current entry, sponsorship, petition, permit, fee, status, employment and filing requirements before travelling, applying, working, investing or relying on residence status.

    American Samoa Bar Association · verified

  3. Official guidanceApplicant
    Open Title 41 immigration code ↗

    Use this official American Samoa source to confirm current entry, sponsorship, petition, permit, fee, status, employment and filing requirements before travelling, applying, working, investing or relying on residence status.

    American Samoa Bar Association · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Can an employer hire a foreign worker without immigration approval?+

Title 41 bars employment of an alien unless the Immigration Board has issued a registration card or the Attorney General has issued a written waiver.

Is this separate from a visitor permit?+

Yes. Visitor permits do not authorise employment-based residence or local work.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in American Samoa

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs

Last checked: 30 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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