Immigration & COFA Rights

PREL shares this information about immigration rights for citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau (Palau) to support students and families across our region, at home and abroad. For the most updated information and public announcements, please reach out to the appropriate consulate office or US embassy.

Recommendations

based on an update from the FSM Embassy on January 24, 2024

As a general matter and regardless of any changes in policy under the new Administration, we encourage all COFA citizens to do the following:

  • Please keep in your close and immediate possession the relevant documents that are used as evidence of your lawful status while residing in the United States. These include your valid and unexpired passport and a copy of your I-94 (https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/home).
  • Should you encounter any situation that may warrant immediate and urgent attention, please contact the nearest FSM, RMI, or Palau office in the US, including the Embassies in DC and the Consulate Generals in Guam, Honolulu, and in the continental US.

Please keep yourself informed by following the FSM, RMI, and Palau Embassy Facebook pages and websites.

General Rights of COFA Citizens in the US

The United States (US) has Compacts of Free Association (COFA) with three countries in the Pacific region: FSM, RMI, and Palau. These COFA agreements are comprehensive, binding international agreements between the US and these countries that was most recently in 2023 (RMI, FSM) and 2024 (Palau).

The Compacts and their subsidiary agreements have three main elements:

  1. The U.S. has defense and security rights and obligations in the FSM, RMI, and Palau, which constitutes a large part of the Pacific Ocean;
  2. The U.S. provides FSM, RMI, and Palau extensive economic assistance in sectors of the economy, such as health and education; and
  3. Citizens of FSM, RMI, and Palau have special rights to enter and remain in the US without visas to live, work, and study, without any limitation on the duration of their stays.

Learn more about the Compacts of Free Association from the US Department of the Interior Office of Insular Affairs: https://www.doi.gov/oia/compacts-of-free-association

Passport Renewal Information

FSM Passport Application: https://fsmembassy.fm/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/FSMPassportApplicationInstructionSheet_Updated.pdf

RMI Passport Information: http://www.rmiembassyus.comcastbiz.net/index.php/consular/consularpassport

  • Allow 3-4 weeks for passport renewals, including processing and mailing of passport to/from Majuro.
  • You should renew your passport 6 months before expiration.

Republic of Palau Passport Office: https://www.palaugov.pw/executive-branch/ministries/state/passport-office/

I-94 Information from the US Department of Homeland Security, Customs, and Border Protection: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/home

FSM Embassy to the United States
1725 N. St. NW

Washington, DC 20036
Email: dcmission@fsmembassy.fm
Web: https://fsmembassy.fm/contact-us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fsmembassy.fm/

FSM Consulate in Guam
1755 Army Drive Route 16

Harmon, Guam 96913
Phone: (671) 646-9154/9155
Email: fsmcgguam@gmail.com

FSM Consulate in Honolulu
3049 Ualena Street, Suite 412

Honolulu, HI 96819
Phone: (808) 836-4775
Email: fsmconsulatehnl@fsmcghnl.com; fsmcghnl@aol.com

FSM Consulate in Portland
2625 SE 98th Avenue

Portland, Oregon 97266
Phone: (503) 483-7149
Email: cg.portland@gov.fm

Embassy of the Marshall Islands
2433 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20008
Phone: (202) 234-5414
Email: info@rmiembassyus.org
Web: http://www.rmiembassyus.org

Marshall Islands Consulate in Hawaii
1888 Lusitana Street, Suite 101

Honolulu, HI 96813
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/RMI-Consulate-General-Honolulu-61552942641033/
Email: info@rmiconsulatehi.com

Marshall Islands Consulate in Arkansas
800 E Emma Avenue Suite 1

Springdale AR 72764
Phone: (479) 419-9332
Email: rmiconsulatearkansas@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rmiconsulatearkansas/

Embassy of the Republic of Palau
1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 200

Washington, D.C. 20006
Phone: (202) 349-8598
Email: info@palauembassy.org
Website: https://www.palauembassy.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalauEmbassyDC/

Palau Consulate in Guam
540 Marine Drive #615 ITC Bldg.

Tamuning, Guam 96911
Phone: (671) 646-9281
Email: guampalauconsulateoffice@gmail.com

Palau Consulate in Hawaii
1154 Fort Street Suite 300

Honolulu Hawaii 96813
Phone: (808) 524-5414 ext 6
Email: palauconsulhi@aol.com