I’m Going to be a Citizen Liaison Volunteer for the USA Embassy Muscat & Other Oman Updates

By Nicole Brewer

Greetings globetrotters! I hope that you all have been well. I’m currently back in Oman after a fabulous summer vacation home in the States with my family after 2 years due to the pandemic. I recently completed my week of quarantine upon arrival to Oman and had to done the lovely below tracking bracelet accessory. Yes, Oman is not playing when it comes to the Covid-19 pandemic. As of September 1st, mandatory quarantine will not be required IF you are fully vaccinated and received a negative PCR test result no less than 72 hours (or 96 hours if traveling from more than 8 hours away) before arrival to Oman. Additionally, you could opt from quarantine if you test negative upon arrival to the country as well while being fully vaccinated.

Expat visas also will not be renewed if you aren’t fully vaccinated. Much change is upon the horizon here and in these times, the USA embassy reached out to those of us who expressed interested in being volunteers with them in the past. I recently attended an information session this week and am planning to agree to the terms sent today for accepting the role as a local Citizen Liaison Volunteer (CLV) for the USA Embassy based here in Oman. As you all know, I’m used to sharing resources and tools with the local expat community in addition to those who inquire about life in Oman here on the blog and even in a local Whatsapp group I belong to here in Nizwa, so sharing updates here and assisting where I can as a CLV is not too far off from my current position.

Some of the duties that I will assist with as a volunteer (again, not a formal government position at all but just a volunteer) role will include:

• Be an on-the-ground resource to help the Embassy understand the issues of concern to U.S. citizens.
• Maintain local contacts in my area such as fellow American expats.
• Engage with other CLVs to share experiences.
• Report on available local resources for U.S. citizens in my area.
• Encourage U.S. citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
• Identify risks for potential crises and security issues in my area.

I’m looking forward to doing my part in assisting the US Embassy Muscat in ways that I can and answering further questions that my fellow expat friends may have here during these times. While I was already answering a host of questions for those interested in living in Oman and for those already here, it will be refreshing to have the inside scoop directly from the embassy and to help them in any way that I can. I hope that you all are staying safe globetrotters where ever you are.