American Samoa (United States territory) · residence general · Leads to settlement
Permanent Resident Status
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
American Samoa permanent resident status for people who meet the statutory and board-administered residence criteria.
- Processing time
- Confirm current permanent residence criteria, forms, sponsor requirements, board timing, fees and registration-card handling with the Immigration Office.
- Government fees
- Confirm current permanent residence, registration-card and renewal or replacement fees before filing.
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence status if granted under American Samoa immigration law and current board procedures.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Overview
Title 41 contains American Samoa permanent residence provisions and the Department of Legal Affairs residency page routes users into current residency classification handling. Applicants should treat permanent residence as a separate status requiring official criteria, filing and board handling rather than an automatic result of visitor, employment or family presence.
Additional sources
Primary source
American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs - Residency Classification ↗ · American Samoa Department of Legal Affairs
Link last verified:
Primary source
American Samoa Code Annotated - Title 41 ↗ · American Samoa Bar Association
Link last verified:
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓The applicant meets the permanent residence criteria published or administered under current American Samoa immigration law.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
- ✓The applicant can provide residence history, sponsor, family, employment, character, health and identity evidence requested by the Immigration Office or board.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
- ✓The applicant follows the official filing process rather than assuming time in American Samoa automatically creates permanent status.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
Common blockers
- !The applicant lacks a qualifying status history or sponsor evidence.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
- !The applicant treats temporary employment or visitor permission as permanent residence.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
- !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 Bar Association ↗
- !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 Bar Association ↗
- !The applicant uses a visitor permit for employment, long-term residence, investment operations or family sponsorship.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Valid passport or other accepted travel document.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
- ·Travel dates, return or onward ticket, accommodation and local contact evidence where required.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
- ·Sponsor, employer, family, investment or purpose-specific evidence requested by the Immigration Office or official petition process.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
- ·Current fee and filing evidence required by the Department of Legal Affairs or Immigration Office.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
- ·Residence history, registration cards, sponsor and petition evidence requested for permanent residence.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
- ·Health, character and identity evidence requested by current procedures.American Samoa Bar Association ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm current permanent residence criteria with the Immigration Office.
Build the evidence pack
Prepare status history, sponsor and identity evidence.
Submit through the official channel
File through the official board or Immigration Office process.
After approval
Comply with any registration-card, reporting or renewal instructions 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 guidanceApplicantCheck Title 41 permanent residence framework ↗
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 guidanceApplicantRead 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
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Related routes
Employment-Based Residency Petition
American Samoa employment-based residency route for foreign nationals whose right to live and work depends on an approved local petition.
Family-Based Residency Petition
American Samoa family or sponsor-based residency petition route for spouses, dependants and other eligible family cases.
Frequently asked questions
Is American Samoa permanent residence automatic?+
No. Permanent residence is a separate immigration status handled under Title 41 and current Department of Legal Affairs procedures.
Should workers or family residents check this route?+
Yes, but only once they can meet the permanent residence criteria and evidence requested by the official process.
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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