International Travel Guidance

High Risk International Travel Guidance

Guidance Audience

This guidance is for IU faculty and staff engaged in international travel who are:

• traveling to a Foreign Country of Concern (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba); or
• engaged in export-controlled R&D under a Technology Control Plan.

Pre-Travel

Understand Your Destination

Research and understand local laws, restrictions, and customs. Review State Department Travel Advisories and Overseas Security Advisory Council Country Reports. Consider enrolling in the U.S. State Department Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.

Pre-Travel Cybersecurity

• Contact RSO to discuss a loaner clean device.
• Remove sensitive data (e.g., export-controlled, unpublished, PII, or PHI data).
• Install the IU VPN and all operating system updates.

Compliance & Disclosures

Export Control

International travel may implicate U.S. export control regulations, depending on the destination, items, equipment, software, or technical data that is taken.

Contact RSO (1) any time you are traveling internationally with IU-owned items, equipment, software, or technical data to determine if a governmental license is required; or (2) if you will be collaborating with a researcher or institution during international travel-RSO will assist you with conducting a Restricted Party Screening to determine if your collaborators appear on any U.S. Government restricted party/sanctions lists.

Talent Recruitment Programs

IU faculty are prohibited from participating in certain foreign talent recruitment programs-especially those sponsored by a Foreign Country of Concern. Review IU's Guidance on Talent Recruitment Programs and consult with RSO prior to entering into agreements for, or engaging in, external activities sponsored by an entity in a Foreign Country of Concern.

Research Support Disclosure

Sr. and Key Personnel on federal funding proposals and awards must disclose all sources of "research support" and their affiliations in funding applications and periodic reports, including on the Current & Pending Support and Biographical Sketch documents. For more information regarding disclosure requirements, contact the Office for Research Administration.

Protect Devices

Avoid using:

• public charging stations/USB ports
• public wi-fi
• removable media (e.g., USB drives, CDs)

• Do not leave your device unattended-even in a hotel room.
• Use your own chargers and cables to avoid data theft.

Secure Research Data & Intellectual Property

• Access files using the IU VPN and IU cloud storage.
• Do not access or download Critical or Restricted Data, Controlled Unclassified Information, or export-controlled information.
• Use encrypted messaging applications (e.g., WhatsApp).
• Disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and NFC when not in use.
• Use private browsing mode in browsers when possible.
• Do not scan QR codes.
• Do not download software/apps unless necessary.
• Power cycle devices daily.

Reporting

Report by contacting RSO immediately if:

• contacted by foreign intelligence entity
• device is lost, stolen, or temporarily seized
• device shows signs of tampering (e.g., battery drain, unexpected data usage)