Message for U.S. Citizens: Somon Air Flight to Istanbul on July 17

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Event:  Somon Air plans to operate a chartered flight from Dushanbe to Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday, July 17.  U.S. citizens wishing to depart Tajikistan to return to the United States should read this message and take necessary steps to purchase tickets for the flight.

Travel Advisory:  On March 19, the Department of State issued a global Level 4 – Do Not Travel advisory, advising U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel. In countries where commercial departure options remain available, U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. U.S. citizens who live abroad should avoid international travel.

Tickets for Somon Air Flight:  Tickets for the flight are currently on sale.  To purchase tickets, contact Somon Air directly, then please inform the U.S. Embassy at DushanbeConsular@state.gov no later than 12pm (noon) on Thursday, July 16, that you have purchased tickets so that we can secure the necessary permissions for your departure.  

To purchase tickets, travelers will need to provide evidence of onward travel to the United States, medical insurance for the period of travel, and documents such as passports and visas as required for your transit points and final destination.  Additional information can be found on Somon Air’s Facebook announcement.

If you would like to purchase tickets for the Somon Air outbound flight from Dushanbe to Istanbul, please contact the following Somon Air representative:

Somon Air Contact: Firuz Davlatov
Personal Mobile Phone:   908 085 666
Office Duty Phone:   937 777 459

COVID-19:  Passengers for this flight must wear masks and gloves.  Upon arrival in Turkey, passengers will be required to complete an information form and checked for possible COVID-19 symptoms.  Passengers suspected of having COVID-19 will be required to undergo a COVID-19 test and will be transported to a hospital for further examination.  We encourage all U.S. bound travelers to review alerts and messages on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 and transiting Turkey.

Baggage Transfers:  Somon Air does not have a baggage transfer agreement to transfer bags for onward flights.  Passengers who choose to travel with Somon Air may need to consider traveling with only hand luggage instead of checked bags, or request Somon Air manually check baggage to the final destination.  Please confirm details with the airline.  Travel with pets is contingent on airline policies; confirm arrangements for pets with Somon Air and the airline company of your connecting flight.  For information on options for baggage transfers to your final destination, please contact the Somon Air representative below:

Somon Air Contact for Baggage Transfers:  Khisrav Nasimov

Office Duty Phone:  937 777 034 or 937 777 035

Current Travel Restrictions:  The Dushanbe International Airport remains closed to regular commercial flights.  Various travel restrictions worldwide make traveling at this time challenging.  Connecting flights may be unreliable and cancelled at the last minute, and restrictions may exist depending on your transit point and final destination.  Because each country may have different rules and restrictions, please reach out directly to the airport you are transiting through for specific information.  You may also consult the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country through which you are transiting for additional information.  All travelers should consider current restrictions on travel to the U.S. before choosing your transit points and booking tickets.

Please note that the United States is restricting non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. legal permanent residents (LPRs) who have been physically present in or transited though a Schengen Zone country within the last 14 days from entering the United States.  Spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens or U.S. LPRs are exempted from these travel restrictions.  Before booking tickets, immigrant visa holders should consider their visa category and verify their eligibility to travel to the U.S., especially if onward travel from Istanbul includes transiting a Schengen country.  

Travelers who wish to leave Tajikistan on a chartered flight require permission from the government of Tajikistan to exit the country.  The U.S. Embassy is prepared to assist individuals traveling to the United States as a final destination with filing an official request to depart on the Somon Air flight.  Please notify the U.S. Embassy at DushanbeConsular@state.gov no later than 12pm (noon) on Thursday, July 16, if you are planning to take the Somon Air flight to Istanbul so that we can secure approval from the government of Tajikistan for you to exit the country.

U.S. Passport and Tajik Visa:  Travelers will not be permitted to leave the country if their visas have expired. Please check your travel documents to ensure that your U.S. passport and Tajik visa are valid.  If you need assistance with obtaining a new U.S. passport or a Tajik visa to facilitate travel for the Somon Air flight, please contact DushanbeConsular@state.gov immediately.

Visa issues not related to the Somon Air flight may be referred directly to the Main Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 227-6363 or 227-3838 located on 34 Pushkin Street, Dushanbe.

Tajikistan does not recognize dual nationality.  All U.S. citizens, even if they entered Tajikistan on their Tajik passport, are required to have a valid Tajik visa to exit the country.

Please Note:  The Dushanbe International Airport remains closed to commercial flights.  If you are interested in departing Tajikistan, please notify the U.S. Embassy at DushanbeConsular@state.gov and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).  We are not expecting any U.S. government-chartered flights in the near future; however, flights may occur with little advance notice.  Enrolling in STEP will ensure that you receive timely updates on possible flights.

Actions to Take:

  • Contact Somon Air to purchase tickets.
  • Notify the U.S. Embassy of your plans to take this flight no later than 12pm (noon) on Thursday, July 16, to request assistance with securing permission from the government of Tajikistan to exit the country.
  • Review the U.S. Embassy Ankara websitefor the latest information on transiting Turkey.
  • Confirm your Tajik visa is valid prior to traveling. Contact the Tajik Main Consular Department at 227-6363 or 227-3838 to resolve visa issues.
  • Prepare to shelter-in-place for an extended period of time if remaining in Tajikistan.
  • Consult the CDC websitefor the most up-to-date information.
  • For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
  • Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on state.govfor the latest information.
  • Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s websiteon the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.

Assistance:

By | 15 July, 2020 | Topics: Alert

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