WASHINGTON, D.C. – Palauan citizens in the United States who renew their passports by mail must exit and reenter the country to update their travel records, according to a public advisory issued by Palau Ambassador Hersey Kyota.
The advisory states that individuals receiving a new passport by mail must leave the U.S. and return to obtain an entry stamp from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This process is required to update their I-94, the official record of their lawful admission into the country. The updated I-94 can then be accessed online at cbp.gov.
The requirement has raised concerns among Palauan students and workers in the U.S., particularly those facing financial or logistical challenges in making an international trip.
“This comes as a shock to me and probably other young adults who study and work here,” said one Palauan student. “We have to leave and return just to get a stamp? I’m worried about those who don’t have the financial means to do so. I came here on a scholarship under the Compact of Free Association, and we were assured that we would be fine. I didn’t know Palauan passport holders needed a stamp. Does this mean those without a stamp are no longer legally in the U.S.? It’s expensive to travel home just for this.”
While the advisory has sparked concerns over travel costs and legal status, CBP regulations require a valid passport stamp to issue a new I-94. Without an updated I-94, a traveler’s status in the U.S. may not be properly recorded.
Palauan citizens living in the U.S. are encouraged to check their I-94 status and plan accordingly to ensure compliance with immigration procedures. (By: Eustoria Marie Borja)