UMass Boston

This page contains informational tips for UMass Boston community members related to travel. While not comprehensive, we advise reviewing this list prior to travel.

• Decisions on international travel should be made in conjunction with a person’s own consideration of risk based on a variety of factors including destination, citizenship, visa status, and visa validity. Based on these factors, you should very carefully assess whether non-critical travel outside the U.S. is necessary at this time.
• If you do choose to travel internationally and are a non-U.S. citizen, please familiarize yourself with the Office of Global Programs pages, including timelines and processes for requesting travel documents. Please contact your International Student & Scholar advisor and/or visit the office if you need further information.
• In general, all people arriving in the U.S. have basic rights at a port of entry. However, all international travelers, including U.S. citizens, do have diminished rights before admission into the U.S. All international travelers are subject to inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when arriving at both land border crossings and airports. CBP will screen travelers to determine whether they are “admissible” and CBP agents may ask travelers questions, including those related to the purpose of their travel and eligibility to enter the U.S.
• CBP agents may ask travelers questions, including those related to the purpose of their travel and eligibility to enter the United States. CBP may collect biographic and biometric data, run records checks, and conduct warrantless searches of bags and electronic devices and otherwise attempt to determine whether someone should be admitted to the United States. In searching electronic devices, they may ask for access to social media accounts, including usernames and passwords, and can scrutinize and copy sensitive digital information. These searches do not generally violate the Fourth Amendment’s proscription against unreasonable search and seizures. If a traveler refuses to cooperate, CBP may delay their travel, seize their device, and further detain and question them. For non-U.S. citizens, CBP may also deny entry.
• All non-U.S. citizens should carry with them documentation that corroborates their identity and immigration status at all times during travel and while present in the U.S. Legal permanent residents should carry with them their Green Card. Non-immigrants or people on temporary statuses should carry with them a photo ID, such as a valid passport or state issued ID, and immigration documents specific to their status.
• Special note for Individuals Traveling on University Business: All University-related international travel by faculty, students, and staff is required to be pre-approved and registered as per the University’s Travel Policy and the University’s Business and Travel Expense Policy. Per Board of Trustee Policy, this includes all international travel where the traveller brings University-owned devices or accesses University data. Travel planning steps including travel registration, details about export control review, information about high-risk travel and the associated process for such destinations, and information on personal travel with a University device or accessing university data can be found at University Travel Approval.