International Travel

When you leave the U.S., even temporarily, for any reason (i.e. teaching, research, or to attend a conference) everything you take with you is an export, including electronic devices, software and data. This applies to any hand-carried items, materials, and devices. Thus, international travel by UAMS employees may be subject to export control regulations depending on the destination and the hardware, software, and/or technical data that is taken. Under most circumstances international travel is free of export concerns, however there are several factors that may cause heightened restrictions.

In order to comply with UAMS policy and provide the Office of International Compliance the necessary information to evaluate whether a license is necessary, please complete the International Travel Form below. As you complete your form, it is important to consider the following questions:

Where are you going?

While any item or technology that is taken outside the US is subject to export regulations, each country may be subject to different US export control requirements. Some destinations are subject to heightened export controls. The Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) broadly regulates and restricts interactions with embargoed countries. These restrictions vary depending on the country and change frequently depending on US economic and political relations. In particular, the following nations are currently subject to the most comprehensive sanctions:

Cuba
Iran
North Korea
Sudan
Syria

Any interaction with these nations will likely require a license from OFAC. For additional information, see Sanctions Programs and Country Information.

For information on sanctions related to Russia & Belarus, see Department of Commerce Country Guidance here.

What are you taking?

Most items do not require a license when being taken outside the US. However, items that may be subject to heightened export control restrictions include, in particular:

Chemicals, biological materials, and scientific equipment
Blueprints, drawings, and schematics containing export controlled technology
Technology related to encryption

In addition to becoming familiar with applicable export control requirements, UAMS travelers should note that any international travel with an electronic device may result in the disclosure of personal information installed on that device. In some countries, customs officials may examine information contained in devices or seize devices. Instances of laptop seizures have been widely reported in the press. Travel in and out of the U.S. is no exception: Homeland Security personnel may inspect information contained in a traveler’s device, or seize the device. UAMS travelers should therefore consider carefully which devices that they take with them on international trips.

What are you doing?

Fortunately, most international travel does not raise any export control concerns, in part because no export license is required for the temporary export to a non-sanctioned country of commercially available laptops, tablets and/or cell phones with standard commercially available software. In other instances, an exclusion or exception to a license requirement maybe available.

However, in order to assess any potential export control issues associated with your upcoming international trip, please answer the International Travel Form questions carefully. NOTE: Individuals can be help personally liable for exporting controlled items, controlled technical data, or controlled software without a license or license exception. Contact the Office of International Compliance if you have any additional questions.

However, in order to assess any potential export control issues associated with your upcoming international trip, please answer the International Travel Checklist questions carefully. NOTE: Individuals can be help personally liable for exporting controlled items, controlled technical data, or controlled software without a license or license exception. Contact the Office of International Compliance if you have any additional questions.

International Travel Form

Please note: in accordance with the UAMS International Compliance Policy & Guide, UAMS travelers must complete the International Travel Form (available below) prior to international travel.

If the responses are “yes” to any of questions 1-9 in the International Travel Form below, please ensure this form is completed at least 45 days prior to trip commencement in order permit to the Office of International Compliance to review. The Office of International Compliance may contact you for additional information to complete the export review process. In the event a license if required, the Office of International Compliance will submit a license application to the appropriate government agency.

If the response is “yes” to question 10 only, please provide a description of the property to be taken outside the US. In the event additional information is required, the Office of International Compliance will contact you. If an Export License Exception Certification is necessary, the Office of International Compliance will provide it to you for completion prior to your trip.

If you are unable to certify the statements contained on the Export License Exception Certification, contact the Office of International Compliance. In the event a license is required, the Office of International Compliance will submit a license application to the appropriate government agency

When the International Travel Form is completed, you will receive an email. This email is automatically submitted to the UAMS Travel Office, and no further action is necessary on your part. However, if any additional information is required, the Office of International Compliance will contact you.

This form is best used with the Google Chrome browser

This form is only required for work-related travel, not for personal travel.