International Visitors
Overview
International visitors play an important role in Stony Brook University's research, education, and service mission. Visiting scholars, researchers, collaborators, consultants, students from other institutions, government representatives, and other guests contribute to scientific discovery, innovation, and global engagement.
Most international visits proceed without significant restrictions. However, visits involving University research may involve research security-related requirements, including export controls, sponsor requirements, research information protection, cybersecurity, disclosure obligations, or other institutional requirements.
The Office of Research Security (ORS) assists faculty, staff, and students in identifying applicable research security-related requirements before international visitors participate in University research activities.
REQUEST AN INTERNATIONAL VISITOR REVIEW
What Is an International Visitor?
An international visitor is any individual from outside the United States who visits the University for research, scholarly, educational, professional, or other University-related activities.
International visitors may include:
- Visiting scholars
- Researchers and collaborators
- Consultants
- Visiting faculty
- Students and interns
- Government representatives
- Delegations
- Laboratory visitors
- Conference, seminar, or workshop participants
- Volunteers
Not every international visitor requires additional review. However, visits involving research laboratories, controlled research information, sponsor restrictions, export-controlled items, or other research security-related considerations should be reviewed before the visit begins.
Contact ORS Before You
Contact ORS before you:
- Invite an international visitor to participate in University research.
- Host an international visitor in a research laboratory, facility, or other controlled-access research space.
- Provide an international visitor access to research equipment, software, technology, technical information, research data, biological materials, computing resources, or other research assets.
- Share proprietary, confidential, sponsor-restricted, government-controlled, or export-controlled research information with an international visitor.
- Host personnel affiliated with a foreign government, foreign military or defense organization, government laboratory, or other organization that may require additional review.
- Host an international visitor who will participate in federally sponsored research.
- Are uncertain whether research security-related requirements apply to a proposed visit.
Key Considerations
International visitors should be evaluated to identify research security-related requirements
before research activities begin. Researchers should consider: Hosts are responsible for completing required Restricted Entity Screening before the
visit begins.
Early review helps identify potential research security considerations while supporting
productive international collaboration.
Providing international visitors access to certain equipment, software, technology,
technical information, or research materials may constitute a deemed export under U.S. export control regulations. Researchers should consider: Most international visits do not create export control concerns. However, ORS should
review proposed activities before a visitor is provided access to export-controlled
equipment, software, technology, technical information, or other controlled research
resources. International visitors may require access to research information, electronic systems,
computing resources, or data. Researchers should consider: ORS coordinates with the appropriate University offices, as applicable, to identify
research security-related considerations. Research sponsors may establish requirements governing participation by international
visitors in sponsored research. Researchers should consider: Investigators should consult ORS and the Office of Sponsored Programs whenever sponsor
requirements may apply. Depending on the nature and duration of the visit, international visitors may require
formal appointments, invitation letters, visitor agreements, confidentiality agreements,
or other institutional documentation before participating in University activities. Researchers should also consider: ORS works with the appropriate University offices to identify research security-related
considerations associated with proposed visitor activities.
Visa and immigration requirements are administered by the appropriate University offices
and are separate from ORS research security review.
Related Guidance
| Related Guidance | Description |
|---|---|
| International Collaborations | Guidance for planning, establishing, conducting, and managing research collaborations with international researchers, institutions, companies, and organizations. |
| Foreign Person Participating in Research | Guidance for employing foreign national faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, and students participating in research activities. |
| Sharing Research Information | Guidance for sharing research information, data, software, technology, technical information, presentations, publications, or other research outputs with collaborators, sponsors, companies, government agencies, or other third parties. |
| Foreign-Sponsored Research | Guidance for proposing, conducting, and managing research funded or otherwise supported by foreign governments, universities, companies, foundations, or other foreign organizations. |
| Foreign Military and Defense Organizations | Guidance for planning, conducting, or supporting research involving foreign military organizations, military universities, defense research institutes, or other organizations affiliated with a foreign military. |
| Export Control Classification | Learn how equipment, materials, software, technology, and technical information are classified under U.S. export control regulations. |
| Deemed Exports | Learn when releasing controlled technology or source code to a foreign person within the United States may constitute a deemed export. |
| Restricted Entity Screening | Learn how organizations and individuals are screened against U.S. government restricted party and entity lists before certain research activities. |
| Countries of Concern | Countries that may require additional review because of federal sponsor, research security, export control, or institutional requirements. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all international visitors require ORS review?
No. ORS review depends on the visitor's proposed activities and access. Review is generally appropriate when an international visitor will participate in research, access research laboratories or facilities, use research equipment or systems, receive non-public research information, or participate in activities subject to sponsor, export control, or other research security-related requirements.
Do international visitors need to be screened?
Yes. Hosts are responsible for completing required Restricted Entity Screening for international visitors before the visit begins. Screening helps identify whether the visitor or affiliated organization is subject to U.S. Government restrictions or whether additional review may be required.
If screening identifies a potential match or other concern, contact ORS before proceeding with the proposed visit.
Can international visitors tour research laboratories?
Yes. International visitors may tour research laboratories when appropriate. Before providing access, hosts should consider whether the laboratory contains export-controlled equipment or technology, proprietary or confidential information, sponsor-restricted research, government-controlled information, or other research resources requiring protection. Visitor access should be limited to areas and information appropriate to the purpose of the visit.
Does hosting an international visitor create an export control issue?
Not necessarily. However, providing access to controlled equipment, software, technology, or technical information may constitute a deemed export and should be reviewed by ORS before access is provided.
Need Assistance?
If you are planning to host an international visitor who will participate in University research, access research facilities or resources, or engage in activities that may involve research security-related requirements, contact the Office of Research Security before the visit begins.
Early consultation helps identify applicable research security, export control, sponsor, information protection, cybersecurity, and other institutional requirements while supporting productive international engagement.