The U.S. Embassy in Apia

Dear editor, I think people should know the truth.

I emailed the U.S. Embassy here from Tahiti several times over a month ago asking when was the visa week in Apia. I never got a reply. Finally, they sent me a message and said they have changed their system and they don't announce when the appointments online will open, well, once we found out it was too late, there were no appointments to be had.

I wrote to explain my need to go to have medical treatment as I am also a U.S. senior citizen in addition to being a proud Samoan citizen and I can't travel alone but my request fell on deaf ears.

Just seems like they don't give a hoot about a citizen of the country they are supposed to represent and the situation this citizen might be in. This is very sad. It's not right. The Chargé d'affaires wouldn't even entertain the thought of meeting with me for 5 minutes to hear my reason that I needed someone to travel with me to assist me and be there to help during the treatment and then come back home to Samoa with me.

I think they really missed the point of why they are here and what they are supposed to do to assist U.S. citizens in need. Even twice I have asked a simple question that can I use the same application to apply in Auckland or in Suva and what is the waiting time in those two countries, a logical question that they can't even answer.

I've heard New Zealand, Australian, Japanese and Chinese embassies are quite helpful to their citizens living or visiting Samoa. I wish I could say the same about the U.S. Embassy, they seem arrogant, uncaring and useless to me.

I am happy for you to publish this. If they don't care to help me, we'll find another way.