Citizens of Samoan needing US visas to travel on the March 10 flight to Hawaii for medical treatment will be traveling to Apia next Monday to obtain their visas from the US Embassy in Samoa.
According to a press release from the Governor’s Office a special inter-Samoa flight has been agreed upon by Governor Lemanu Mauga and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Malielegaoi for Monday, February 22, 2021.
The flight will transport 29 passengers who have pending Nonimmigrant Visa applications with the U.S. Embassy in Samoa for future travel to Honolulu for medical treatment. This group will also include a CAT Scan engineer from American Samoa to help repair a CAT Scan machine at the National Hospital in Moto’otua.
“Governor Lemanu and the COVID-19 Task Force intend to safely and legally assist these medical referrals and their escorts to process their Nonimmigrant Visa applications in Samoa,” said the release. “ The goal is that these passengers depart American Samoa on March 10th to Honolulu for further medical treatment if their applications are approved.”
At this time, this is the only scheduled flight between the two Samoa.
Further discussions and planning will be held at a later date for other opportunities to conduct future inter-Samoa flights.
“The COVID-19 Task Force continues with logistical planning and coordination for this flight with the following offices and agencies, Office of the Governor, Honorable Consul General Fonoti of the Samoa Consulate, Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata’s Office, LBJ Medical Referral ASDOH, ASDHS, Port Authority, Office of Legal Affairs, Immigration Office, and Customs.”
Nonimmigrant Visa applicants are required to pay their cost-share for this leg and provide negative COVID-19 test results from ASDOH before departure. The cost share is $250 round trip.
The travelers will be exempt from quarantine requirements in Samoa but are highly encouraged to practice facemask wearing and social distancing while transiting to and from the US Embassy.
Upon their return, they will be subject to mandatory quarantine and testing under the current ASDOH requirements.
KHJ News has received confirmation that there will be two flights transporting the visa applicants and their escorts to Apia. They will return on February 24.
The last chartered flight to Samoa for Immigrant Visa applicants and their escorts was October 2020.
Citizens of Samoan who have registered with the Samoa Consular Office are able to travel to Samoa on the two flights bringing back the visa applicants. These travelers must be bonafide residents of Samoa and not short term visitors.
For more information or questions please contact the Emergency Operations Center (EOC): or email eoc.opschief@asdhs.as.gov
