Updated Guidance on International Travel

With the upcoming end of the academic year and the approach of summer break, here is some updated guidance and advice regarding international travel for the Duke international community.

Due to the increased risks involved in re-entering into the United States, we are advising members of the Duke international community to avoid international travel unless essential. If international travel is unavoidable, and you have questions or concerns about your upcoming travel, we recommend you consult with your Duke Visa Services liaison. You may want to also consult with an immigration attorney, particularly if you are a citizen of one of the countries reportedly under consideration for travel restrictions, or if you will need to obtain a new visa to return to the U.S. An immigration student resource can be found on this page.

As we did in a January communication, we continue to encourage caution with respect to international travel for individuals in a nonimmigrant visa category. A valid visa does not guarantee entry to the U.S. due to the wide discretion granted to Customs & Border Protections officers at ports of entry.

Based on developments since then, we now similarly advise Legal Permanent Residents – green card holders – as well as those in nonimmigrant categories.

Immigration officers are exercising strict entry procedures as part of the “maximum vetting” policy of the current administration, and an increasing number of travelers are being referred to “secondary inspection” where they may face additional questions and device searches .

We provided additional travel guidance, recommended documentation, and secondary screening information, in our communication on March 28.

Also, reports in March indicated that the federal administration is considering a broader travel ban on 43 countries. As of April 18, no travel bans or restrictions have been officially implemented, but an official announcement could be released at any time – potentially with immediate effect. This means that if a member of the Duke international community is outside the U.S. at the time that a travel restriction upon their nationality is announced, that individual may not be able to re-enter the U.S.

We recognize this message is going to lead to questions, and we will answer those to the best of our ability. We are asking international students, faculty, staff and scholars to share their questions in this anonymous link. Undergraduate students living on campus will receive information regarding on-campus summer housing options.