Attorney General Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde has clarified that her office has not discontinued the issuance of Certificates of Identity (CIs)
A post circulating on social media—which was not an official notice from the Department of Legal Affairs—claimed that the AG’s Office stopped issuing CI’s on September 30.
The AG explained that their office is still issuing Certificates of Identity, but only for emergency situations: medical emergencies, and cases where a passport has been applied for but has not arrived in time for travel.
She noted that CI’s issued earlier and still valid can continue to be used for travel between here and Hawaii. However, after they expire, individuals must have passports, as their office will no longer issue any more CI’s except in the two emergency situations mentioned.
Tauiliili-Langkilde said since the REAL ID became effective on May 7, the office has limited the issuance of CIs for travel, with the intention of having people obtain passports and REAL IDs.
She encouraged U.S. nationals to apply and obtain their passports and REAL IDs to avoid being held up when traveling outside the territory.
The AG emphasized that, for now, CIs already been issued may still be used for travel between American Samoa and Hawaii, but are not accepted for travel between Hawaii and the mainland. Therefore, her advice to U.S. nationals is to obtain a passport.
She added that Samoa is accepting travelers using American Samoa CIs.
