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Compact Admission — United States Citizens and Nationals

MicronesiaFree movement

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Micronesia Read the five questions ↓

Which citizenship, status or regional agreement creates the person's right to move/reside?

US citizenship or nationality, under Article IV (Immigration), section 142 of the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the FSM, as amended.

See recorded sources

Under which circumstances can the person reside: worker, self-employed, student, jobseeker, self-funded person or another recognised basis?

The Compact provision covers admission, lawful occupations and residence; it does not require the person to fit a worker, student or self-funded subcategory.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Current implementing regulations, operational forms and independent review are not covered by the cited capture.

What entry, registration or residence-document formalities remain?

Under FSM Title 50, US citizens and nationals need no entry permit for a visit of up to 365 days during the Compact's effective period, and pay no fee to change immigration status. FSM must apply immigration procedures for US citizens seeking employment or investment no less favourable than US procedures for FSM citizens. The President provides by regulation for annual registration of resident noncitizens, except those exempted by law or treaty as he or his designee determines. The official source does not state which permit or document is needed to reside beyond 365 days or whether US citizens are exempt from annual registration.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captures do not say which permit or document a US citizen needs to reside beyond 365 days.
  • The captures do not say whether US citizens are exempted from the annual noncitizen registration.
  • https://fsmlaw.org/fsm/code/title50/T50_Ch01_2014.html
    except that, with respect to citizens and nationals of the United States of America, for the effective period of the Compact of Free Association, and with respect to citizens and nationals of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau, a permit is not required for the duration of the visit, which shall not exceed 365 days.
  • https://fsmlaw.org/fsm/code/title50/T50_Ch01_2014.html
    For a noncitizen to change status, he shall be required to apply for a permit reflecting his changed status and pay a fee, except that citizens and nationals of the United States of America, for the duration of the Compact of Free Association, and citizens and nationals of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Republic of Palau shall not be required to pay a fee to change immigration status.
  • https://gov.fm/the-compact-of-free-association-between-the-united-states-of-america-and-the-federated-states-of-micronesia-as-amended/
    (c) Consistent with subsection (a) of this section, with respect to citizens and nationals of the United States seeking to engage in employment or invest in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia shall adopt immigration-related procedures no less favorable than those adopted by the Government of the United States with respect to citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia seeking employment in the United States.
  • https://fsmlaw.org/fsm/code/title50/T50_Ch01_2014.html
    The President shall by regulation provide for annual registration of noncitizens residing in the Federated States of Micronesia, except for those noncitizens who are exempted from registration by law or international treaty obligations of the Federated States of Micronesia as determined by the President or his designee.

Which non-member-country family members can accompany or join, and what broad rights do they receive?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm which non-member family members can join and their rights.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Searched Compact s.141-143 and Title 50 for family members of US citizens/nationals admitted under s.142(a); no provision on accompanying non-US family members. The s.142(a) spouse sentences concern a US citizen who is the spouse of an FSM citizen (used in R5).

When do permanent/long-term rights arise and what continuity, absence or retention conditions matter?

The Compact right lasts while the person keeps US citizenship or nationality (it is lost on relinquishing or losing it) and is subject to FSM's right to deny entry or deport a US citizen as an undesirable alien, on reasonable statutory grounds with administrative and judicial review in FSM. A US citizen spouse of an FSM citizen must be allowed to establish residence, and to continue residing if the FSM citizen spouse dies during the marriage. The official source does not state a qualifying period after which permanent residence arises.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captures state no qualifying period after which permanent residence or FSM citizenship arises for US citizens.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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