American Samoa (United States territory) · work sponsored
Employment-Based Residency Petition
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
American Samoa employment-based residency route for foreign nationals whose right to live and work depends on an approved local petition.
- 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
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
Primary source
A.S.C.A. 41.0410 - Employment of aliens ↗ · American Samoa Bar Association
Link last verified:
Primary source
A.S.C.A. Title 41, Chapter 04 - Immigration status ↗ · American Samoa Bar Association
Link last verified:
Primary source
American Samoa Code Annotated - Title 41 ↗ · American Samoa Bar Association
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓The foreign national has an employment basis and a sponsor or employer that fits the current American Samoa petition process.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- ✓The employer does not employ the person until the required Immigration Board registration card or Attorney General waiver is in place.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- ✓The applicant and employer can provide the identity, sponsorship, job, financial, health, character and fee evidence requested by the official process.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
Common blockers
- !The person starts work on visitor status or before the required registration card or waiver is issued.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- !The employer or sponsor evidence is incomplete.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- !The traveller assumes a United States visa, ESTA, mainland U.S. immigration status or state-side admission automatically authorises American Samoa entry or residence without checking American Samoa rules.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- !The person works, resides, invests, changes purpose or sponsors a case before the Immigration Office, Immigration Board or statute-supported process has approved the correct status.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- !The applicant uses a visitor permit for employment, long-term residence, investment operations or family sponsorship.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Valid passport or other accepted travel document.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- ·Travel dates, return or onward ticket, accommodation and local contact evidence where required.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- ·Sponsor, employer, family, investment or purpose-specific evidence requested by the Immigration Office or official petition process.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- ·Current fee and filing evidence required by the Department of Legal Affairs or Immigration Office.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- ·Employer letter, job evidence, sponsor undertaking, registration-card evidence or written waiver where applicable.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- ·Health, character, identity and financial-support evidence requested by the current petition process.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm the current employment-based petition category with Department of Legal Affairs guidance.
Build the evidence pack
Prepare employer, sponsor, identity and job evidence.
Submit through the official channel
File through the Immigration Office or board process and pay current fees.
After approval
Start work only when the required registration card, waiver or approved status authorises it.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
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.
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorRead 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
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorCheck 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
- Official guidanceApplicantOpen 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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Related routes
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Permanent Resident Status
American Samoa permanent resident status for people who meet the statutory and board-administered residence criteria.
Non-U.S. 30-Day Sponsored Visitor Permit
American Samoa visitor-permit route for non-U.S. travellers who need local sponsorship for a short visit.
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