International Travel

The U.S. State Department issues periodic Travel Advisories for each country of the world largely based on safety and security conditions that could affect the lives and interests of U.S. persons abroad. The advisories have four levels, from “Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions” to “Level 4 - Do Not Travel” and describe the risks and give clear guidance to help travelers stay safe.

The Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC) in the Department of Treasury imposes economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign countries and regimes for reasons of national security and foreign policy.  Where it has imposed comprehensive sanctions on a country, all travel is prohibited.  Even if sanctions are limited, travel restrictions are likely to be significant.  Examples of countries subject to OFAC sanctions include North Korea, Russia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Liberia but can change at any time, therefore the OFAC website should be reviewed before making any travel arrangements.

Although export control considerations most commonly arise in the research context, other activities by UM personnel, including international travel on university-related business, or if in connection with their job responsibilities, can raise export control issues. International travel can raise data security and safety issues depending on who is traveling, where you are going, what you are taking with you, who will you be working with, and if anyone else is paying for any part of your travel.

Taking a data storage device (e.g., a laptop, tablet, smartphone, USB flash drive, or smartwatch) outside of the United States typically (except to countries of concern) does not require an export license, as long as the device does not also contain “special purpose” encryption software or other software or data that is “controlled” under U.S. laws and regulations.

“Special purpose” encryption refers to software other than standard commercial encryption software and does not include so-called “mass market” encryption software that comes with the device (e.g., encryption that is built into Microsoft Windows operating systems or VPN applications).

Traveling abroad with research-related information (e.g., publications, presentations, underlying research results) would typically not require an export license, as long as the research is available in the public domain or could be considered “fundamental research” (research that is ordinarily published and share broadly within the scientific community). However, certain destinations are subject to stricter export control restrictions.

Taking the following items abroad in connection with international travel may require governmental authorization in the form of a license:

• Devices with non-commercial, “special purpose” encryption software
• Devices that contain proprietary or export-controlled data
• Sophisticated research equipment, tools, or controlled defense articles that could be used to conduct research (e.g., certain kinds of thermal imagining cameras, night vision devices, spacecraft systems, etc.)
• Pathogens and/or toxins, or genetic materials/GMOs that contain a code that could be used to conduct research.

While personal international travel does not need to be screened or reported to the UM, if you are planning on taking UM equipment out of the country, that is considered an export of UM property and review of it should be requested prior to the trip, per the UM Export Control policy. A review can be requested via an online form – Export Control Screening.

• Is this a predatory conference, or one with an established history?
• Who is organizing/sponsoring the conference?  For example, is it located in Italy but appears to be organized/sponsored by entities from countries of concern?
• Where is the conference taking place? If you intend to travel to a comprehensively sanctioned country/region, or a country with increased export restrictions, you should reach out to UM Research Security prior to making any arrangements.
• What are you taking with you? Be aware that any information and data on electronic devices can be accessed and copied without your knowledge.
• What will you be presenting? Make sure that your presentation contains published information, or information in public domain. If a result of a sponsored project, ensure that there were no contractual restrictions on its publication.

If the travel is fully covered using internal 25 accounts, or your personal funds, then no further due-diligence is required regarding funding of the trip.

If the travel is being paid using sponsored project funds (35 accounts), then it is your responsibility to check whether the Fly America Act requirement is applicable (there would have been a checkmark in the ORSP Interoffice Memorandum the PI received when the award came in). If applicable, ensure that your flight tickets follow the requirements and any allowed exceptions are documented.

If any part of the travel is covered by the host, or a third party, per the UM Objectivity in Research policy, these funds are considered as Significant Financial Interest (number 8) and must be disclosed to the UM if you are receiving, or plan to apply for, sponsored research. Disclosure must be made prior to submission of your next proposal for external funding, or within 30 days of the sponsored travel, whichever comes first.  In addition, when applying for sponsored projects, certain sponsors also require that you disclose this in your Current and Pending Support or similar proposal documents.

• Encrypt and password-protect your devices.
• Only take necessary information on your device.
• Remove automatic log-in information.
• Log out of any password management software and password-protected websites.
• Recognize that your personal belongings may be searched several times and access to your devices might be requested.
• Disable automatic connection to available wi-fi.
• Do not allow any external devices to be plugged into your computer; be wary of USB or other promotional “gifts” that need to be plugged in to your computer.
• If your devices start working very slowly or unusually, stop using them and seek assistance from the HelpDesk upon return.

• Assume that anything you do on any device, particularly over the Internet, will be intercepted. Encrypted data may be decrypted in some cases.
• Never use shared computers in public areas, hotel business centers, or cyber cafes, and never use devices belonging to other travelers, colleagues, or friends.
• Do not use public USB charging stations for your devices to avoid “juice jacking.” Carry and use your own USB cables and charging plugs 

Research Information:

• Don’t share unpublished research when receiving inquiries; information about failures in research can be as valuable as successes.
• Do not take with or virtually access any unpublished research (sponsored or internal) data on your electronic devices.
• Do not speak about, or comment on, the status of research and development being conducted by others in your department. Defer questions to those researchers directly.

Personal Well-Being:

• Enroll in the U.S. State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). It provides travel advisories on safety conditions and sends traveler trip information to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, allowing the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to assist in the event of an emergency or disaster.
• Obtain the phone number and address of the U.S. Embassy and Consulate for the country/countries you plan to visit.
• Avoid political conversations, or offering political opinions, while in foreign countries.
• Do not take any provocative or suggestive literature with you to other countries.
• Do not take items or substances that are against the law to possess in the through-transit and destination countries.

Upon Travel Completion:

• Report any unusual personal, telephonic, or internet contacts to the UM Research Security office (umresearchsecurity@olemiss.edu).
• Change any and all passwords you may have used abroad.
• Consider requesting that HelpDesk examine your device for the presence of malicious software.

Consider detailed travel tips from the National Counterintelligence and Security Center.