International Travel Security - Currently Acceptable Travel & Guidance for Researchers
Guidance for Caltech Personnel Traveling Internationally
Are you traveling to a Foreign Country of Concern*?
*currently Iran, China (including Hong Kong & Macau), Taiwan, North Korea, and Russia
If you are traveling to a Foreign Country of Concern, please read the following guidance:
Caltech is committed to fostering an academic environment where faculty, students, and staff are encouraged and supported in collaborating with colleagues from around the world. However, there are special considerations for individuals traveling to Foreign Countries of Concern or Sanctioned and Embargoed Countries. This guidance outlines considerations for those traveling to these countries to engage in any Currently Acceptable Activities (See explanation of each).
Currently Acceptable Activities:
Making a scholarly presentation and publishing written materials regarding scientific information not otherwise controlled under current law.
Participating in an international conference or other international exchange, research project or program that involves open and reciprocal exchange of scientific information, and which is aimed at advancing international scientific understanding and not otherwise controlled under current law.
Advising a foreign student enrolled at an institution of higher education or writing a recommendation for such a student, at such student's request.
Engaging in activities that are partly sponsored or otherwise supported by the United States such as serving as a government appointee to the board of a joint scientific fund (e.g., the U.S.- Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation); providing advice to or otherwise participating in international technical organizations, multilateral scientific organizations, and standards setting bodies (e.g., the International Telecommunications Union, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, etc.); participating in a Fulbright Commission program funded in whole or in part by a host country government; or other routine international scientific exchanges and interactions such as providing invited lectures or participating in international peer review panels.
Engaging in involvement in national or international academies or professional societies that produce publications in the open scientific literature that are not in conflict with the interests of the federal research agency (e.g., membership in the Pontifical Academy of Sciences or The Royal Society).
Taking a sabbatical, serving as a visiting scholar, or engaging in continuing education activities such as receiving a doctorate or professional certification at an institution of higher education (e.g., the University of Oxford, McGill University) that are not in conflict with the interests of any federal research agency.
Receiving awards (e.g., the Nobel Prize, Fields Medal, the Kavli Prize) for research and development which serve to enhance the prestige of any federal research agency.
Checklist:
If your travel falls into one of the currently acceptable categories, above, please:
□ Verify that the hosting entity (e.g., institution) is not a restricted party. You may use the Visual Compliance Restricted Party Screening (RPS) tool to confirm this or contact the Office of Research Security to request an RPS for the entity(ies) you intend to engage with during your visit.
□ Confirm that the activity is not funded, organized, or managed by an academic institution or a foreign talent recruitment program on the lists developed under paragraphs (8) and (9) of Section 1286(c) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (10 U.S.C. 4001 note; Public Law 115-232). If you have questions, please contact the Office of Research Security.
□ If you will be presenting or disseminating information at the conference, ensure that the content qualifies as fundamental research or is publicly available, and remains within the fundamental research exclusion as defined by applicable regulations.
□ Confirm that the conference is open to all and that the information being shared is accessible to all attendees.
□ Confirm that you have no current awards that require before-the-fact travel reporting obligations, regardless of the source of support for the travel (e.g., specific DOD awards). If you have obligations to report, please do so in accordance with the terms of your agreement. Make sure to copy [email protected] and [email protected], so that there is Institutional documentation that you disclosed as required.
□ Travel with a clean laptop, and ensure that none of your devices (e.g., smartphone, electronic storage media, etc.) contain export-controlled, confidential, or proprietary information. Please contact IMSS for assistance.
□ For other types of international travel, please refer to the Office of Export's International Travel resource page or [email protected] for additional guidance.
