American Samoa’s attorney general increases immigration bond rates

On November 20, 2025, the American Samoa Attorney General’s Office released a revised immigration bond schedule, the first significant adjustment to bond amounts in decades. The update was issued through a public notice and applies to every member sponsoring a foreign national for residency under the territory’s immigration system.  

The updated list increased bond amounts for 88 countries, 33 of which were previously not on the immigration bond list. Under the revised rates, several countries will see substantial changes. Some of the most drastic increases include the bond for Samoa increasing from $147 to $325, Tonga from $250 to $1025, the Philippines from $996 to $1924, and Fiji from $331 to $854. 

Under American Samoa’s Immigration Act (Title 41), all foreign nationals seeking residency must be sponsored by a resident or employer. Once a petition is approved, sponsors are required to post an immigration bond, the amount determined by the origin country. Because American Samoa administers its own immigration system independent of federal US immigration law, the bond is issued and updated solely by the territory’s government. The Attorney General’s Office has not released an explanation for the revised rates, but the updated bond amounts are the first time they have been adjusted since the 1990s. 

The new bond rates will affect sponsors across the territory, including businesses that rely on foreign workers and individuals filing family petitions. Public response to the revised bond amounts has been mixed. 

In comments on a Talanei article announcing the changes, one taxpayer criticized the update and urged the AG’s Office to focus on enforcement rather than rates, writing that it may be time to “re-evaluate the guidelines that outline the responsibilities of the sponsor” and ensure sponsors are “held more accountable.”

Another commenter supported the increase, calling it “long overdue” and asking immigration officials to more closely monitor how residency categories are assigned, adding that “the public should be informed about quotas and how they are applied.”

Immigration offices are expected to begin applying the revised rates to new and pending sponsorships effective immediately. Sponsors will need to review the updated list to determine the applicable bond amount before committing to petitions. Additional guidance from the Attorney General’s Office may follow as agencies incorporate the new rates into processing procedures.