Samoa Emigration and Immigration

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Samoa

Emigration and Immigration

Online Records

1890-1960 Passenger Lists Leaving UK 1890-1960 at FindMyPast; index & images ($); includes those with Destination of Samoa

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has duplicate records of all naturalizations that occurred after September 26, 1906. Requests for information must be made through a Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act request, sent to:

INS FOIA/PA
2nd Floor, ULLB
425 I Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20536

Historical Reference Library
425 I Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20536
Telephone: 202-514-2837

Information is provided about the INS Historical Reference Library collection and services, and documents concerning the history of the Service (as well as of immigration law, procedure, and immigration stations, and instructions for historical and genealogical research using INS records).

Historical Research Tools
Immigrant Arrival Records
Ports of Entry and Records

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
U.S. Department of Justice
INS Historical Reference Library and Reading Room Section
Chester Arthur Building, 425 I Street, NW
Room 1100A
Washington, D.C. 20536
Telephone: 202-514-2837

Immigration and Naturalization Service (BKK)
District Office, Bangkok, Thailand
c/o American Embassy
APO San Francisco, CA 96346

Immigration and Naturalization Service (RIT)
District Office, Rome, Italy
c/o American Embassy (Via V. Veneto 119)
APO New York, NY 09794

Persons visiting Samoa are met by immigration officials at the airport who stamp their passports with an entry permit, allowing them to stay until the date of their flight out of the country. There is no problem extending a stay for up to 30 days. Extensions longer than 30 days are possible but not automatic. An easy way to obtain an extension is to take a quick trip to American Samoa before returning to Western Samoa.

Gaining residency is not that easy and the government decides how many permanent resident permits will be granted in any year. Successful applicants for immigration need to show that they will make a significant contribution to the social and economic prosperity of Samoa.