Currently, the CSU strongly encourages all faculty, staff and students to carefully assess the necessity of international travel. While the decision to travel outside the United States is personal,
the CSU advises all members of its community to proceed with extreme caution. Immigration policies and practices, travel bans, and health and safety risks are shifting daily and often cannot be fully assessed or projected in advance.
Before undertaking international travel for any work, study, personal or leisure purpose, including to conduct research, attend conferences, teach abroad, participate in learning programs or community service projects, employees and students are urged to carefully consider and assess the variables outlined below, all of which may impact travel plans, personal safety while abroad, and the ability to reenter the United States.
Please be aware of these requirements for business-related international travel:
- Employees planning to travel to foreign destinations for business reasons must request approval from their campus president (or their designee) before making any travel arrangements and should contact their campus Risk Management Office for guidance.
- Travel for business or study to countries on the US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs Current Travel Warning List (Level 4 “do not travel”) or those deemed war risk requires approval from the Office of the Chancellor.
- Employees should consult with IT services to ask about secure devices or data protection best practices for international research.
Additionally, the concerns below should be carefully considered:
- Constant policy changes by the federal government could affect visa eligibility or re-entry requirements mid-trip, leaving travelers vulnerable to unexpected barriers.
- Increased emphasis on stricter border control, which could lead to longer screening processes, device searches, or interviews, especially for travelers with certain nationalities or research interests.
- Visa holders may face increased scrutiny or delays when re-entering the U.S., particularly if they traveled to or transited through countries experiencing diplomatic strain with the U.S. or under heightened security. Travelers seeking visa renewals may also experience longer processing times, resulting in delays in reentering the U.S. Visas are often tied to specific institutions or programs of study. Any disruption in travel, employment, or study can inadvertently impact legal status.
- Travelers from certain countries could be affected by current or proposed travel bans or enhanced screening procedures, depending on national origin or prior travel history. A proposed
3-tier travel ban would suspend visas to a total of 41 countries.
- Foreign laws often differ significantly from those in the United States. Violation(s) of these laws, intentional or not, may impact the ability to re-enter the United States.
- Geopolitical tensions in areas such as the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and parts of Asia or Africa may increase risks of conflict, detainment, or restricted movement by foreign nationals, especially from Western countries.
- Destinations may have increased threats of terrorism, civil unrest, or targeted violence, which can pose direct dangers to travelers.
- Traveling with research data or devices may make students and faculty vulnerable to surveillance or cyber espionage, especially in countries with aggressive data policies.
- Faculty and students involved in sensitive research areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, or defense-related fields may face additional questions at the border.
To assess risks, please consult the following external resources:
Relevant Travel Policies
University Foreign Travel Resources
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