Import jQuery and other 3rd Party Libraries into TypeScript as modules using AMD
One other work around would be use a type definition for requirejs and use your own require statements, rather than an import statement.
The downside to this is that the TypeScript import can be used with AMD or CommonJS with just a compiler change, so you would be marrying requirejs in your program more than you would be with an import.
There is an existing definition for requirejs on Definitely Typed.