International & Domestic Travel

COVID-19 Pre-departure Testing

Effective June 12, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) rescinded the requirement that travelers present a negative COVID-19 test performed within one calendar day before departure to the United States (https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/fr-proof-negative-test.html).  This applies to all travelers, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals alike. Pre-departure tests are no longer required.

The order requiring that non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa) travelers must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination remains in effect. As a reminder, this rule applies even if the non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrant traveler is the spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen or resident. 

Eastern Europe

We are continually assessing and monitoring the situation in eastern Europe. In our judgement, it’s still safe to continue with SMU Abroad programs as well as international travel for other SMU purposes. These are some of the resources we use to keep tabs on the situation:

• Advice provided by the US Department of State, which regularly updates its travel advisories, including information on the availability of US embassy assistance to travelers;
• Advice and on-the-ground security updates provided in real time by SMU’s preferred intelligence vendor, International SOS.
• Continuous monitoring of open-source media;
• Advice provided by trusted on-site partners who develop Education Abroad programs in partnership with us and who can speak to the realities they are currently facing in their countries;
• Continuous benchmarking with other similar universities who are considering these same things.

Of course, there are potential escalations that we are watching for that may cause us to reconsider or suspend programming in Europe. These include, but are not limited to:

• An evacuation recommendation or order issued by the US embassy in a country;
• The suspension of US embassy services in a country;
• The suspension of regular flight service to or from a country;
• A cyberattack that significantly damages a country’s infrastructure;
• The use of nuclear weapons in the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine;
• Any armed conflict between NATO and Russian forces.

International travel has two review components – budget and risk. The budget review happens when a travel request is submitted and approved in Concur (SMU-funded trips only). Simultaneously, anyone traveling internationally must also complete the Risk Assessment and Registration portion found by clicking the "register your travel here" button.  Once both reviews have been completed, the Concur Travel Request will be approved and the individual or group has authorization to begin booking the actual travel. 

Please submit travel requests up to 90 days prior to departure to allow for review by the Travel Oversight Committee (TOC), especially if you are traveling to a restricted region.  Information about restricted regions can be found by clicking the "Restricted Region List" button.