Rice University strongly values academic freedom, global collaboration, and open research. At the same time, U.S. federal agencies emphasize that protecting cutting-edge research is vital to national security, as foreign adversaries may attempt to exploit open academic environments to compromise research integrity and intellectual property.

To safeguard your work, protect Rice University’s research ecosystem and funding, advance national security priorities, and ensure federal compliance, the Office of Research Security and Export Controls (RSEC) provides this checklist for foreign travel.

Before Making International Travel Plans

Check for Sanctions and Embargoes

Travel to, or through, sanctioned or embargoed countries may be prohibited. Check the latest Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Active Sanctions list to see if the country you intend to travel to has sanctions or embargoes. If you intend to travel to a country on this list, you must submit a request to the RSEC Intake before making travel plans.

Determine if Your Destination is Considered an Elevated Risk

1. Search the US Department of State (DOS) Travel Advisory for your intended region of travel.

2. Search the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI) to reveal the corruption score associated with the countries you intend to travel to.

If your travel region is listed by the Department of State as Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or Level 4 (Do Not Travel), or if you are traveling to a country with a CPI of 60 or below, Rice designates this as travel to an Elevated Risk Region.

3. Traveling to a Foreign Country of Concern (FCOC), which includes China, Hong Kong, Macao, Russia, North Korea, or Iran, is considered by Rice as travel to an Elevated Risk Country for reasons of Counterintelligence. Attending an RSEC Pre-Travel Briefing is mandatory before traveling to or through any of these countries

If you are traveling to an Elevated Risk Region:

• Review information on the Rice Global Elevated Risk Locations webpage.
• Review Section A. Travel to Elevated Risk Locations in Policy 852.

Review Travel Health Notices

Search the CDC Travel Health Notices for health-related travel advisories, including recommended vaccinations and precautions.

Contact Federal Funding Program Officer

If you are supported by a federal grant, make sure to check with the program officer for any approval or reporting requirements.

Travel Preparation

Register International Travel

All Rice-related travel must be registered in the Rice Travel Registry in accordance with Rice Policy 852.

Although not required, RSEC strongly encourages all non-immigrant visa holders, including F-1, F-1 OPT, H-1 B, etc., to register their travel in the Rice Travel Registry.

After completing the travel registration, check your email for the registration confirmation and advisory emails from the Rice Travel Registry.

Electronic Devices

If you plan to travel internationally with a Rice-issued laptop, consider checking out a loaner from TS&S. Requests for a loaner can be made here.

Install the Rice VPN on all devices you plan to take with you, before leaving the U.S.

Physical Items or Data

If you are taking any research-related items or data on your trip, submit a request for an Export Controls Assessment via the RSEC Intake.

If you are on a Technology Control Plan (TCP), work with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), or have publication restrictions associated with a grant, you must request an Export Controls Assessment via the RSEC Intake.

Review Rice Policy 808 on the Protection of University Data and Information

Pre-Travel Briefing

After you have registered your travel in the Rice Travel Registry, you will receive an email with information about how to join a Pre-Travel Briefing. If you do not receive an email with this information after registering your travel, submit a request for a Pre-Travel Briefing via the RSEC Intake.

Save, Print, and Carry

Copies of your passport, driver’s license, Rice ID, immigration documents and Crisis 24 Information.

Rice’s Crisis24 hotline number for 24/7/365 assistance: +1-443-926-0533

Travel Letter

After registering your travel and attending a Pre-Travel Briefing, you may request an official Travel Letter from Rice University here.

We strongly encourage faculty, students, and staff with non-immigrant visas (F-1, F-1 OPT, H-1 B, etc.) to submit a request for a Travel Letter here.

F and J visa holders: A travel letter does NOT serve as a travel endorsement for visa purposes. If you require a valid travel signature on your current I-20/DS-2019, please contact the Office of International Students and Scholars via email at oiss@rice.edu. Additional information can be found in the "Requesting Travel Endorsement" section of the OISS webpage.

Post-Travel

Post-Travel Briefing

Upon your return, promptly request a Post-Travel Briefing via RSEC Intake. Be sure to report any suspicious activity, lost or misplaced items, or compromised data.

If you have traveled to or had a layover in a sanctioned/embargoed, or Foreign Country of Concern/Counterintelligence Country (Russia, Iran, China, Macau, Hong Kong, North Korea), a Post-Travel Briefing is mandatory.

Posted 08/24/2026