Travel advisories are provided for Virginia Tech employees traveling overseas. All participants in export-controlled or other secure research will receive a travel advisory soon after we receive a travel authorization request. Travel advisories include up-to-date information on restricted parties and sanction risks in the country to which you are travelling, as well as current information on export and other risk-related issues.
Send a travel advisory request stating your approximate departure date and international destinations. We will respond within 48 hours and will provide you with the latest information regarding sanctioned and other restricted parties and entities with whom we are prohibited from doing business, or require a special license from the government. During your travel if you are contacted by one of these entities or individuals entity, please record as much information as you can about the incident and contact this office.
“reasonable suspicion of any crime or wrongdoing is not needed for customs officials to search a laptop or other personal electronic storage devices at the border."
Depending on your international destination(s), an export license or other government approval may be required for your laptop computer, software, or other equipment. There are exceptions for "tools of trade" but these exceptions depend on the equipment and the country of your destination. Encryption software in particular is subject to special regulations and more stringent license requirements.
Additionally, check the "Privacy and Data Security" page for more information and tips on securing your personal information and restricted data when traveling overseas. Please contact this office if you have any questions or need further information.
Annual TMP/ENC Certification Form
Click on the link provided to file your Annual TMP/EMC Certification form. Virginia Tech employees should file this form once each year to provide a record of Virginia Tech owned equipment that leaves the U.S. (travels) with employees. If your laptop, PDA, or other electronic device is lost or stolen, this form will have a record of the vital information needed to file a police report or insurance claim.This form only needs to be filed once every year, or whenever any listed equipment is changed. Information needed to complete the form: your VT PID and password, the manufacturer's name, the equipment model number, equipment serial number and the VT Property identification number.
To ensure you do not run the risk of exporting sensitive information or technology when traveling abroad, or dealing with sanctioned countries, entities, or individuals, keep the following guidelines in mind:
Presentations and discussions must be limited to topics that are not related to controlled items or technologies unless that information is already published or otherwise already in the public domain.
Verify that your technology or information falls into one or more of the following categories prior to travelling:
On April 21, 2008, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that U.S. customs has the right to inspect your laptop as you go through border security, including at U.S. airports. The court dismissed concerns regarding any privacy or First Amendment rights holding that “reasonable suspicion of any crime or wrongdoing is not needed for customs officials to search a laptop or other personal electronic storage devices at the border."
Request a travel advisory from OESRC for the country or countries you will be visiting AND request a restricted party screening for entities and individuals with whom you will be doing business.