Alert: Repatriation Flight for U.S. Citizens

Alert – U.S. Embassy Rangoon, Burma (1 April 2020)

Location: Burma

Event: The U.S. Embassy is attempting to coordinate a repatriation flight for U.S. citizens with valid U.S. passports leaving from Yangon within the next week and returning to the United States.

The date of the flight is not set, however we anticipate the flight will be from Yangon International Airport only.

The destination will be in the United States, but the exact location is not yet determined. Travelers will have to arrange and pay for their onward domestic travel to their final destination.

The flight will not be free, and U.S. citizens who join the flight must reimburse the U.S. government for the cost of the flight. We expect the cost of the flight will be comparable to commercial flights returning to the United States from Burma. You will be informed of the total cost before the date of the flight.

A limited number of pets may be permitted on the flight; more details on pets will be forthcoming.

If you are a U.S. citizen who wants to join this flight, please fill out this link (http://tinyurl.com/srly386) and submit one form per traveler, even when traveling in a group. We will use this information to accurately prepare for the evacuation flight. If you have already filled out this form, you do not need to fill it again.

There may be a limited number of seats, so if you have already submitted a form to us but decide not to avail yourself of this opportunity please let us know by sending an email to ACSRangoon@state.gov. This will allow us to allocate seats to those who want to depart.

We anticipate arranging only one evacuation flight from Burma. Given the lack of other flight options in the near future, U.S. citizens who choose not to join this flight should be prepared to remain in Burma indefinitely.

There may be limited seats on the flight. If demand exceeds the number of seats, repatriations will be prioritized in the following manner:

1) U.S. citizens at higher risk from COVID-19, along with their immediate family members.

2) U.S. citizen minors and their U.S. citizen parent(s)/legal guardian(s) or one foreign national parent/legal guardian or escort.

3) All other U.S. citizens on a first-come, first-served basis.

Upon entry in the United States, passengers on this flight may be subject to U.S. CDC screening, health observation, monitoring requirements and existing Department of Homeland Security entry requirements. Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.

Who is eligible to be included in a repatriation flight?

U.S. citizens are eligible. One parent or guardian escorting a U.S. citizen minor is eligible, provided they have a valid U.S. visa. The Embassy will not adjudicate visa applications in support of evacuation operations.

Others who may be eligible: Foreign spouses or children of U.S. citizens and U.S. Legal Permanent Residents. Listed below are minimum requirements for those categories. Even if you meet the criteria we cannot guarantee you will receive a seat.

Foreign Spouse:

Valid visa for entry to the United States
Valid foreign Passport
Original evidence of qualifying relationship to U.S. citizen on the flight (e.g. original marriage certificate)

Child of a U.S. citizen:

Original birth certificate clearly indicating the parent’s U.S. citizenship.
Valid visa for entry to the United States

U.S. Legal Permanent Resident (LPR):

I-551 U.S. permanent resident card, foreign passport, and evidence of residency in the United States in the past 12 months.
If you have not been physically present in the United States in the past 12 months, you do not qualify for repatriation as an LPR.
An LPR’s family members who have not obtained I-551 U.S. permanent resident cards are not eligible for evacuation assistance.

Actions to Take:

If you are a U.S. citizen who wants to join the repatriation flight, please fill out this link and submit one form per traveler.
Consult the CDC website for 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 travel.state.gov for the latest information.
Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Burma.
Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.
Read information for U.S. citizens about a U.S. government-assisted evacuation.
Read what the Department of State can and can’t do in a crisis.