American Samoa (United States territory) · family
Family-Based Residency Petition
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
American Samoa family or sponsor-based residency petition route for spouses, dependants and other eligible family cases.
- Processing time
- Confirm current P-12 or family petition forms, sponsor evidence, board timing, fees, card handling and renewal requirements with the Immigration Office.
- Government fees
- Confirm current family petition, registration-card and renewal fees before filing.
- Typical duration
- Residency status as granted under the current petition or registration process.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
Overview
The Department of Legal Affairs residency classification page identifies family-based petition handling alongside employment and other classifications. Family cases should use the current Immigration Office petition process rather than a visitor permit, and sponsors should confirm relationship, support and status evidence before filing.
Additional sources
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 applicant has a qualifying family or sponsor basis under the current American Samoa residency classification process.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- ✓The sponsor can provide identity, residence, relationship and support evidence requested by the Immigration Office.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- ✓The applicant does not rely on visitor permission for long-term residence before the family petition is approved.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
Common blockers
- !Relationship, sponsor, support or status evidence is missing.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
- !The applicant remains long term after visitor permission expires while a petition is unresolved.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 ↗
- ·Marriage, birth, adoption, guardianship, sponsor status, address and support evidence requested by the current petition process.American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm the current family-based petition route with Department of Legal Affairs guidance.
Build the evidence pack
Gather sponsor and relationship evidence.
Submit through the official channel
File through the Immigration Office or board process and pay current fees.
After approval
Track status, card and renewal conditions after approval.
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 guidanceApplicantRead family 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 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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Frequently asked questions
Can a visitor simply stay with family long term?+
No. Family residence should be handled through the American Samoa residency petition process before visitor status expires.
Is sponsor evidence important?+
Yes. Family cases typically turn on relationship and sponsor support evidence requested by the Immigration Office.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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