Immigration is never missing from the agenda of the Samoa talks, and the Atoa o Samoa meeting held October 13-14 in Apia was no exception.
According to the communique of the talks, “The meeting welcomed advice that American Samoa will fully open its borders by December 2022. The meeting also noted that use of the Talofa Pass, as a requirement for entry into American Samoa, would cease.”
KHJ News points out that at the COVID-19 Task Force meeting this week, health officials recommended that TalofaPass will be used to upload health information of travelers.
“The meeting was informed of three types of entry permits for American Samoa and further welcomed the relaxation of some of its entry permit requirements, including police and health clearances for applicants from Samoa.”
At present, the Immigration Office issues a 30-day permit and a block permit for visitors from Samoa. A 24-day permit has been under discussion but nothing has been finalized when we checked with the Immigration Office.
On entry permits to Samoa, “The meeting noted specific requirements for entry permits for US nationals but not US citizens. Clarification was also sought regarding the departure tax applied to travelers to American Samoa only, and not to other destinations.
“The assistance and reconsideration of these arrangements were put forward for the consideration of the Samoa government; and subsequent to noting Samoa’s general entry requirements, the Taskforce was tasked to amicably consider and resolve entry issues into the two countries respectively.”
“The American Samoa government acknowledged the assistance of the Samoa government in the relocation of Samoan citizen deportees/returnees. In 2021, 26 Samoans were returned/deported via sea transport/Lady Samoa.”
