If you were born in the a nation that is a Freely Associated State of the U.S. under a Compact of Free Association (COFA), review these tips to guide you through your badge application in AirBadge. Examples of Freely Associated States (FAS) are Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau.
Identify Your Citizenship Status
The first question in AirBadge is about your citizenship status. If you were born in a FAS such as Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Republic of Palau, you are probably not a U.S. citizen. When AirBadge asks “Are you a citizen of the United States of America,” you should only select “YES” if you are absolutely certain that you are naturalized. In the unlikely case that you are a naturalized citizen, don’t forget to include your Alien Registration Number (ARN) in your badge application materials.
Select your current citizenship status: Choose Alien Authorized for Work if you are not a U.S. citizen.
Gather Your Identity Documents
- Upload your identity documents such as an Unexpired Form I-766 or Foreign Passport.
- If you are still a foreign citizen, make sure to include your I-94 number. It’s best to get this number ahead of time from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/.
- Most badge applicants from Micronesia or the Marshall Islands do not have a nonimmigrant visa (NIV). This document is not required for your badge application, but if you have one, you should include it.
Add Your Citizenship and Place of Birth
As you continue to work through your application, you’ll need to answer a series of questions about yourself including your place of birth and country of citizenship. Select the appropriate country from the dropdown. These will be listed in AirBadge as:
- Micronesia (Federated States of)
- US Territorial Possessions – Marshall Islands
- Palau
If you have questions about any part of the application process, reach out to your signatory or your badge office.