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International Travel Information

International Travel for conferences,  research, teaching, collaboration, and other University-related activities is important to the University community. However, international travel may raise export control, sanctions, research security, cybersecurity, and state compliance considerations.

Some destinations are subject to significant restrictions under U.S. government sanctions, export control regulations, or state research security requirements. Travelers are responsible for complying with applicable laws, regulations, sponsor requirements, and University guidance.

Before You Travel

Faculty, staff, students, and other University personnel should contact the Office of Research Integrity before international travel if any of the following apply:

  • Travel is to a foreign adversary country, country of concern, sanctioned country, or restricted destination;
  • Travel involves University business, research, teaching, conferences, fieldwork, collaborations, or sponsor-funded activity;
  • You plan to take a University-owned laptop, phone, tablet, equipment, software, data, research materials, or other technology;
  • You plan to access University systems while abroad, including email, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, Moodle, ULink, Chrome River, Zoom, or other University platforms;
  • You may access, download, sync, edit, store, or transmit University research, proposal, sponsor, manuscript, collaborator, or business files while abroad;
  • You plan to meet privately with foreign institutions, collaborators, companies, sponsors, hosts, or other external parties.

Even when travel is personal, ORI and IT should be notified in advance if the traveler plans to take a University device or access University systems from a foreign adversary country, country of concern, sanctioned country, or restricted destination.

Export Controls, Sanctions, and Restricted Parties

Any technology, software, equipment, research data, technical information, or proprietary information that is not publicly available may require review before it is taken, accessed, shared, shipped, or discussed outside the United States. In some cases, an export license or other authorization may be required.

The Office of Research Integrity can also assist with restricted party screening for foreign institutions, collaborators, companies, sponsors, or hosts to determine whether additional restrictions may apply.

Travelers should review applicable sanctions information through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and contact ORI before travel to restricted or higher-risk destinations.

IT Access and Data Security

Accessing University systems from certain international locations may present cybersecurity, sanctions, export control, or research security risks. ORI and IT may need to determine whether University access should be approved, limited, delayed, or restricted while the traveler is abroad.

In some cases, access may be limited to essential systems only. Access to OneDrive, SharePoint, proposal files, research data, sponsor documents, or other non-public University materials may require additional review.

Things to Consider

  • Contact ORI as early as possible, preferably several months before travel, if export control, sanctions, HEFSA, or IT access review may be needed.
  • Travel with as little technology and data as possible.
  • Do not take or access export-controlled, proprietary, confidential, sponsor-restricted, or non-public research materials unless reviewed and approved.
  • Consider all countries you will visit or transit through, not only your final destination.
  • Keep University devices, equipment, and data in your control at all times.
  • Do not ship equipment, technology, software, or research materials internationally without prior review.
  • If University system access is needed abroad, contact ORI and IT before departure.

Destinations that require careful review may include the People’s Republic of China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, sanctioned regions, or any other country identified as a foreign adversary, country of concern, sanctioned country, or restricted destination under applicable law or University guidance.

For questions or travel review assistance, contact the Office of Research Integrity at researchsecurity@louisiana.edu, or 337-482-1533.