Under U.S. Jurisdiction (14)

* American Samoa

* Baker Island

* Guam

* Howland Island

* Jarvis Island

* Johnston Atoll

* Kingman Reef

* Midway Islands

* Navassa Island

* Northern Mariana Islands

* Palmyra Atoll

* Puerto Rico

* Virgin Islands

* Wake Island

Viper1

Yes, although it is located in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States. Puerto Rico's official status is "Free Associated Commonwealth of the United States Of America". Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States by Spain as a result of the Treaty of Paris of 1898 ending the Spanish-American War.

Residents of Puerto Rico hold on to much of their Spanish culture and are torn between a desire for autonomy and statehood.

Citizenship

People born in Puerto Rico are automatically American Citizens with all the rights and responsibilities of any American Citizen born in a state. (Jones Act of 1917)

Right to Vote

Puerto Rico does not have any electors in the Electoral College therefore Residents of Puerto Rico are unable to vote for President of the United States even if they were born in a state and moved to Puerto Rico as permanent residents. A person born in Puerto Rico who becomes a permanent resident of any US State has the right to vote for President in that state.

Representation in US Congress

Puerto Rico does not have voting representatives or senators in the US Congress. Puerto Ricans elect one delegate to the US House of Representatives to speak for the territory. The delegate can vote in committees but cannot vote on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Taxation

Permanent Puerto Rican residents are exempt from Federal income tax on money earned in Puerto Rico from companies with a presence in the territory. This does not mean Puerto Ricans do not pay federal taxes. Puerto Ricans pay payroll tax, social security, medicare, excise taxes, road use tax and capital gains tax among others. Money earned off the island and from companies without a presence on the territory is not exempt from federal income tax. There is also a very hefty local state income tax and sales tax.

Travel Document Requirements

Persons traveling on commercial airliners, or ships on direct transit from any US State or Territory to any other US State or US Territory are not required to have a passport. This includes travel between Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Identification requirements vary, but in general a state issued driver's license or state issued Identification card will suffice. Travel between any US State or territory and any foreign country or territory does require a passport. This includes travel between Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands, or any other Caribbean Island other than the US Virgin Islands.

Political Status - Statehood Referendum

Puerto Rico has had 4 plebiscites dealing with the question of statehood, independence, or continued territorial status with the US. They were held in 1967, 1993, 1998, and 2012. The highest number of Puerto Ricans to actually vote for independence in a plebiscite is about 4%. The average number of voters to seek independence has been around 1½%. The rest of the electorate is evenly divided between statehood and status quo (keeping the current status, or some other form of autonomous territorial status with the US). "None of the Above" narrowly won over statehood in the 1998 plebiscite. About half of the population wanted a different political status which would grant the territory more autonomy, but do not want to lose American Citizenship in the process.

In November 2012 a two tiered referendum was held to address the issue raised by the 1998 plebiscite. The first question asked between maintaining the status quo or seeking a different political status. Two thirds of the electorate indicated they wanted a different political status. The second question asked which status should be sought: Independence, Statehood, or Sovereign Commonwealth (like Republic of the Marshall Islands). A majority of those who voted on this question chose statehood. However, there was a large number of "undervotes" in the second question, allegedly due to confusion of those who voted for status quo in the first question. A giant political battle erupted. In the same election, the "status quo" party narrowly won the governorship of the territory. Because of these developments, it is unlikely that the Puerto Rican legislature, or the Governor, will petition the US Congress for statehood anytime soon.