Entry to the U.S. and its territories is part of the three island nations’ privileges under their Compacts of Free Association with America.
Marie Thérèse Sebrechts, regional media manager of the department’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services with jurisdiction over Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam and the CNMI, said the citizens of Marshall Islands and the FSM, which is made up of the states of Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae and Pohnpei, do not need a U.S. visa to enter Northern Marianas and other parts of the United States.
She said the U.S. only requires FSM and RMI citizens to show their passports when entering America.
An FSM or RMI citizen also includes a citizen of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, as defined in Title 53 of the Trust Territory Code in force on January 1, 1979.
It also includes a naturalized citizen of RMI or FSM who has been an actual resident there for not less than five years after attaining such naturalization and who holds a certificate of actual residence, among other definitions.
Palauans do not need a passport to enter the U.S.
“I consulted with my colleagues in sister agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who are actually responsible for entry requirements. The current requirements, as they apply to the rest of the United States, will apply after the Federal immigration law is extended in the CNMI once the [Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 or U.S. Public Law 110-229] is implemented,” Sebrechts said in an e-mail to the Variety.
This includes applying the provisions of Compact of Free Association or COFA that the RMI and FSM signed with the U.S. on June 25, 1983 and later became U.S. Public Law 99-239 after it was signed by President Ronald Reagan on Jan. 14, 1986.
Palau’s COFA with the U.S. was signed in Nov. 1986 and was enforced in 1994 when the island nation became an independent republic.
“FSM and RMI will require only a valid passport, and under the current compact for Palau there is no passport requirement at this time. Visas are not required for any of the three countries (except in very specific, limited circumstances),” said Sebrechts.
The DHS official made the statement after local officials highlighted the importance of local control on immigration following the smooth entry of visiting navigators from Satawal atoll in Yap and Palau late last month to participate in the 28th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival.
The visiting navigators had no passports or other identification documents and yet were allowed to enter Saipan.
“Without a passport, they wouldn’t be allowed to come in [if our immigration system is federalized],” Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said.
The visiting navigators said most of them have no passports.
