Immigration and Travel

Wed Mar 26 17:01:54 EDT 2025

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Dear MIT students,

TLDR: This landing page<https://ogc.mit.edu/latest/special-topics-immigration-and-international-travel> has information about immigration and international travel of relevance to all MIT community members.

There have been a lot of recent news reports and communications regarding international travel and immigration law enforcement. In this email we are collecting a few different resources that have been shared at MIT. These resources will likely be useful to all students regardless of your immigration status, so we encourage everyone to read through them. Note that several of them require Touchstone authentication.

Travel and border related topics

Ultimately, the choice of when, where, and whether to travel is a personal decision for each of us. This is true for both personal travel and work-related travel. Some of the below resources might help you make an informed decision and be aware of considerations if you do choose to travel.

  1.  MIT’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) has prepared a comprehensive document detailing what to expect when leaving or entering the United States. You can access it here<https://ogc.mit.edu/practice-areas/international-activities/special-topics-immigration-and-international-travel/ogc?check_logged_in=1>. This information is relevant to anyone planning international travel including US citizens.

  2.  MIT OGC also has travel guidance reference cards that have concise information on what to do in case you are stopped at the border that you can print, fold, and keep with you when crossing a border in case you are unable to access your electronic devices. Reference card for US citizens here<https://ogc.mit.edu/system/files/documents/Border%20Stoppage%20Guidance%20-%20Reference%20Card%20%28US%20Persons%29%20%28October%202023%29.pdf>, and non-US citizens here<https://ogc.mit.edu/system/files/documents/Border%20Stoppage%20Guidance%20-%20Reference%20Card%20%28Non-US%20Persons%29%20%28October%202023%29.pdf>.

  3.  The MIT International Students Office (ISO) has regularly updated information regarding travel considerations specifically for international students (including US Permanent Residents) on their news page<https://iso.mit.edu/news-and-announcements/>.

  4.  The ISO also has a detailed guide for entering the US for various categories of international students that you can access here<https://iso.mit.edu/visas-and-travel/entering-the-u-s/#Electronic>.

Additional things to keep in mind

  1.  If you are traveling with any electronic devices that contain work/research related files, especially an MIT-owned computer, get an authorization letter from your supervisor and the MIT export control office. For MIT-owned devices, make sure to clearly state that it is NOT your personal computer, as implying that a work device is your personal property will raise a flag.

  2.  Remember to always carry your immigration documents. Especially if you are traveling (both international and domestic) or going to the airport to pick someone up, make sure to bring ALL of your ORIGINAL PHYSICAL immigration documents (Passport, Visa, I-20, Copy of I-94 record, proof of admission and finances). Photocopies or electronic copies are good to have but are not sufficient, and you should be aware of who you are handing over unlocked electronic devices to.

  3.  If you plan to travel internationally and need to renew your visa, be aware that current processing times for visa renewals are uncertain and you may not be able to return to the US for a long time.

Interactions with law enforcement besides at ports of entry

  1.  MIT OGC has two guidance documents regarding what to do if there are immigration and law enforcement agents on campus. You can read them here<https://ogc.mit.edu/practice-areas/international-activities/special-topics-immigration-and-international-travel/mit> and here<https://ogc.mit.edu/latest/ogc-guidance-interactions-immigration-and-law-enforcement-agents-campus>.

We hope the above listed resources are helpful for making informed decisions. Please note that none of the information provided here constitutes legal advice from the Graduate Student Council or Undergraduate Association. For further information on any of these topics, please contact the relevant offices such as ISO or OGC.

Love you all and stay safe.

Sincerely,

Teddy Warner

President, MIT Graduate Student Council
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Enoch Ellis

President, MIT Undergraduate Association

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Advait Athreya

Vice President, MIT Graduate Student Council

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Rishika Bansal

Vice President, MIT Undergraduate Association

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