ATTENTION FSM CITIZENS: International Air Carrier Flights on May 9th, May 20th, & May 21st Will Not Result in the Arrival of Passengers; FSM Citizens Who Permanently Reside Abroad & Medical Referrals MAY Depart If They Have Proper Documentation

Parent Category: PIO Articles News and Updates

FSM Information Services

 

 

Public Service Announcement

ATTENTION FSM CITIZENS: International Air Carrier Flights on May 9th, May 20th, & May 21st Will Not Result in the Arrival of Passengers; FSM Citizens Who Permanently Reside Abroad & Medical Referrals MAY Depart If They Have Proper Documentation

 

PALIKIR, Pohnpei—On May 9th, 2020, May 20th, 2020, and May 21st, 2020, international air carriers will arrive into the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). These flights will not be bringing passengers into the Nation, but non-citizens who reside in the FSM (e.g. U.S. citizens, Australian citizens, etc.) may depart the country at that time if they choose to do so. Further, per the terms of Congressional Resolution 21-138, FSM citizens who meet the requirements for departure may do so long as they possess the proper documentation. This release will describe who is eligible to depart (FSM citizens permanently residing abroad and medical referrals),and the types of documentation they will need to bring with them, as FSM Immigration officers will be checking these documents prior to allowing citizens to enter the departure lounge in any given FSM port of entry.

 

Congressional Resolution 21-138 advises that “All FSM citizens are banned from traveling to any country, state or territory with confirmed cases of COVID-19 until further notice and until such time that a determination is made that the COVID-19 Pandemic is effectively contained. Exceptions may be granted for FSM citizens who will be traveling to affected areas, who are legal residents of an affected area, and are returning to their homes or place of employment, or for urgent medical treatment….”

 

Therefore, there are two categories of FSM citizens who MAY be allowed to depart the FSM: citizens who permanently reside abroad, and those with medical referrals.

 

Citizens who reside abroad will need to bring with them documentation demonstrating their residence abroad. Acceptable documentation may include:

 

  1. A letter from one’s employer;
  2. A bill for services such as power, rent, or other utilities;
  3. A company ID card or employee ID card;
  4. A lease agreement; and/or
  5. A U.S. State identification card, IF such a card identifies an FSM citizens’ permanent address in that jurisdiction.

 

A driver’s license may be used to augment such documentation, but may not serve as enough documentation by itself on the premise that not all foreign jurisdictions require residency to acquire such a license.

 

Citizens travelling on a medical referral will need to bring with them appropriate paperwork from their medical service provider.

 

Any citizen who is not carrying proper documentation, as determined by FSM Immigration officers at the time of departure, will not be allowed to leave the FSM.

 

For further information, please contact the FSM Department of Justice’s Division of Immigration at +691-320-5844.