Kiribati delegate bats for visa exemption after mix-up

10/30/2025 - Kiribati delegate Birimaka Tekanene said a mix-up almost led to the island nation not participating in the 65th Board of Directors Meeting of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures General Assembly.

Speaking to Marianas Press during a break in Day 1 of the event last Oct. 27 at the Crown Plaza Resort Saipan, Tekanene said they unfortunately thought that their delegation didn’t need a U.S. visa to come to the 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. Because when we arrived in Narita Airport, we were told that we needed a visa to come to the CNMI, the same in Guam.”

Normally, Tekanene said Kiribati citizens would have to travel to Fiji and apply for a U.S. visa at the U.S. embassy there.

However, due to the mix-up, they only went to Fiji to obtain their visa to Japan, as they had a connecting flight in the country for their trip to Guam and eventually the CNMI.

“But when we arrived at Narita Airport before we departed for Saipan, we were told that we needed a visa. So, we had to call the APIL president, and told him about our issues. And that's when the CNMI and Guam worked together, and then finally we were advised that we could board the plane and come down to the CNMI.”

Tekanene said CNMI House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez was able to resolve the mix-up, and the situation was eventually resolved. He said they received their U.S. visas upon arrival at the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport.

“We are so fortunate that the president of APIL and members of the secretariat really, really helped us. And this is the first time that we know that there's a visa exemption program by the U.S. We've been given that opportunity. But at the same time, we are told that this is an exceptional case, and probably that will be the only one that will be given now.”

If given the chance, though, Tekanene hopes Kiribati will eventually become a part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.

“So, 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, that we won't have any problems coming down to [the Marianas] anytime we are at APIL,” he said.

Tekanene added that the Miss Micronesia Pageant started in Nauru earlier this month, and if the contest is hosted by either the CNMI or Guam in the future, he hopes their citizens would have an easier time traveling to these two U.S. jurisdictions in the Pacific. 

“We are Micronesians, and we hope that we probably look into that, or the APIL will look into that, so that we don't have a problem in the future.”

Villagomez, for his part, gave kudos to the Kiribati delegation for their patience with the rather challenging experience of attending the APIL event this year.

“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.”

Report by Mark Rabago