Q: Hi! I am trying to find more information about how to handle a complicated situation.
My fiance and his family are from American Samoa, so they are US nationals. They moved over to the US. His sister is pregnant from her fiance, who lives in American Samoa, but was born in Western Samoa. He wants to move over here to the US to be with her and take care of the baby and work. What is the best way for him to try and stay here, legally? I looked into the visa for fiances and it seems like they still need a sponsor? His girlfriend does not work. Is there a way for him to become naturalized in American Samoa, then able to come here? Thanks!
A: You are correct that a foreign alien must have a sponsor (along with meeting many other requirements) to begin naturalization. A sponsor can also be an employer--that is a person can self-sponsor. As for some treaty rights between West v. US Samoa, it is possible that there is a special provision (esp. because the division between the Samoas is really just an arbitrary line). I do not know the answer off the top of my head and I think it is fair to assume that the greater majority of lawyers outside of Samoa do not know either. It can be researched, but you will need to pay a lawyer for the time and effort (I imagine the charge would be no more than a few hundred dollars for the majority of immigration lawyers).
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