Birimaka Tekanene, right, said his delegation mistakenly believed they did not need a US visa to enter the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Mark Rabago
A last-minute visa mix-up nearly prevented Kiribati from joining the 65th Board of Directors Meeting of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures (APIL) general assembly, according to a senior government official.
Speaking to RNZ Pacific on the sidelines of the event at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Birimaka Tekanene said his delegation mistakenly believed they did not need a US visa to enter the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
"The problem that we encountered is that we were told by the secretary that we don't need a visa to come down to the CNMI because we are part of Micronesia. I think there's a misunderstanding there," Tekanene said.
"When we arrived in Narita Airport, we were told that we needed a visa to come to the CNMI, the same as Guam."
Kiribati citizens must travel to Fiji to apply for a US visa at the US Embassy there.
However, due to the confusion, Tekanene said the delegation only went to Fiji to obtain a visa to Japan, where they had a connecting flight en route to Guam and Saipan.
"But when we arrived at Narita Airport before we departed for Saipan, we were told that we needed a visa," he said.
"So, we had to call the APIL president and tell him about our issue. That's when the CNMI and Guam worked together, and we were finally advised that we could board the plane and come down to the CNMI."
Tekanene said CNMI House Speaker Edmund Villagomez, who also serves as APIL president, helped resolve the matter.
"We are so fortunate that the president of APIL and members of the secretariat really, really helped us," Tekanene said.
"This is the first time that we know that there's a visa exemption program by the US. We've been given that opportunity, but at the same time, we were told that this is an exceptional case and probably the only one that will be given now."
Tekanene expressed hope that Kiribati could one day be included in the US Visa Waiver Program.
"Every time we have to come over to Micronesia, either Guam or the CNMI, we hope that we can be given that same status, or something to do with the visa, so we won't have any problems coming down to Micronesia anytime we attend APIL," he said.
He added that with the Miss Micronesia Pageant having recently taken place in Nauru, it would be beneficial for Kiribati citizens to have easier travel access to Guam and the CNMI should either host future editions of the regional event.
"We are Micronesians, and we hope that we probably look into that-or that APIL will look into that-so that we don't have a problem in the future."
Villagomez commended the Kiribati delegation for their perseverance amid the travel difficulties.
"I know you've come a really long way to get here - a couple of days longer. But we really thank you for your patience and for making it out here today," he added.
