Duke University urges caution on international travel for students

Key Takeaways

• Duke University warns international students and staff against nonessential travel due to increased border scrutiny and potential new travel bans.
• Even with valid visas or green cards, reentry to the U.S. may be denied by Customs and Border Protection officers.
• Universities advise consulting visa services, preparing documents, protecting digital privacy, and allowing extra time for border inspections.

Duke University and several other US universities are asking international students to be very careful about traveling outside the United States 🇺🇸 right now. This warning isn’t only for students, but for all members of the international community, including people who have green cards, also called Legal Permanent Residents. The universities worry that it is much harder to come back to the country smoothly due to changes at the border and possible new immigration rules.

Right now, travel can cause unexpected problems for people with visas, including students, employees, and scholars. Many international students and staff rely on the ability to cross borders for family visits, research, and conferences. But in 2025, the risks related to leaving and then returning to the United States 🇺🇸 have become much greater. Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening, what the risks are, and why top institutions like Duke University are offering this advice.

New Travel Guidance from Duke University

On April 18, 2025, Duke University’s Visa Services posted detailed advice for anyone at the university with international ties. Their message was very clear: unless your travel is absolutely necessary, you should stay in the United States 🇺🇸. Even if you have all the correct papers, it might be a big risk to leave and try to come back.

Duke’s guidance is joined by similar messages from at least four other well-known US universities. Some of the universities that have also issued warnings include the University of California, UC Berkeley, and Boston University. This shows that the concerns are widespread in the higher education community.

Why Are US Universities Warning International Community Members?

There are a few main reasons behind these strict warnings:

– Increased Border Questions and Searches: Border officers are more thoroughly checking everyone who enters the United States 🇺🇸. They call this “maximum vetting.” This means more travelers—even people with all their documents in order—are being sent to a “secondary inspection” area. In these areas, they might be asked many extra questions or have their electronic devices, like phones and laptops, checked.

• Possible New Travel Bans: Earlier this year, there were reports that President Trump’s administration is thinking about a new travel ban that could include 43 different countries. Although nothing has been put in place yet (as of early May 2025), universities want their students and staff to be careful. These kinds of bans can happen very quickly, sometimes going into effect on the same day they are announced.

• Even Valid Visas Don’t Always Guarantee Entry: According to US immigration law, the final decision about entry into the country is always made by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers right at the port of entry, which can be any airport or land border. Even if you have a valid visa, it doesn’t mean you’re always safe from problems. Officers have a lot of power to question travelers or even refuse them entry in certain situations.

What International Students and Staff Should Do

Duke University and other US universities have put together a list of instructions for their international community members who feel they must travel. Here are the main actions everyone is advised to take:

• Speak to University Advisors Before Traveling: Everyone is told to check with their university’s visa services office before making any travel plans out of the United States 🇺🇸. These offices can give up-to-date information about what’s happening at the borders.

• Talk to an Immigration Lawyer if Needed: If you are from a country that might be affected by future travel bans, get legal advice before leaving. Immigration attorneys can explain the latest news and help you make good decisions.

• Keep Devices and Online Information Private: New reports show that officers sometimes check travelers’ phones and laptops at the border. This means anything you have on your devices, including messages and social media posts, could come under review. The universities remind students to think carefully about what they carry with them on their devices.

• Make Sure All Travel Papers Are Up-to-Date and Easy to Reach: Have your passport, visa, and other travel papers handy, not packed away in luggage you might check in for your flight. You may need to show these quickly at different points during your journey.

• Leave Extra Time for Border Checks: The advice is simple: build some flexibility into your travel plans, because you might spend a lot more time than expected at the border due to extra questioning.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, Duke University is also making it easy for international students to get private advice. They have set up an anonymous online form so students can ask questions about their own situations without anyone else knowing.

The university also reminds anyone traveling with money from or at the request of Duke University to register their trip in the Duke Travel Registry, which is a tool to help track and support university-sponsored trips. This helps the university offer help in case students run into trouble abroad.

Background: Why the Tighter Scrutiny and Increased Worry?

There are a few reasons why international travel now feels like a bigger risk for students, workers, and green card holders. Let’s look at the big picture so you understand why these warnings are not just about this month or this year but are part of a bigger trend.

History of Travel Bans and Border Changes

Not long ago, in President Trump’s first term, there was a travel ban that affected people from seven countries. That ban led to many students, researchers, and workers from those places being stopped at the border, sometimes even if they had all their papers and had been studying or working in the United States 🇺🇸 for years.

The memory of the older travel ban still worries many in the international community. In that case, even people who were already on their way back to the country were not allowed to enter after landing at a US airport. Legal challenges followed, but the Supreme Court eventually ruled that a narrower ban was allowed. Because these bans can be broad and often happen suddenly, universities are careful to warn their students whenever there’s talk of new restrictions.

Current Numbers Show a Big Change

The International Trade Administration reported that in March 2025, there were 12 percent fewer visitors entering the United States 🇺🇸 from overseas compared to the previous year. This is a sharp fall, and it’s the steepest drop since March 2021, when pandemic-related travel was still causing big disruptions.

This number says a lot about the mood and the risk people feel. When there is a drop like this, it usually means people are worried about new rules and more questions at the border. This in turn leads universities like Duke University to warn their international communities.

First-Hand Experiences of Increased Inspection

It’s not only the numbers that have changed. Many students and university staff report that when they return to the country, they are questioned much more than before. Some say that officers want to look at their phones or ask detailed questions about their studies, work, or travel history. This makes trips feel less predictable and more stressful.

How These Changes Affect International Students and Staff

Uncertainty About Returning

The biggest concern for international students and staff is whether they will be allowed back into the United States 🇺🇸 after a trip abroad. Because officers at the border have the last word, there’s always a risk—even if you have a visa or a green card.

For students studying at Duke University or other US universities, missing even a few days because of travel problems can be a big issue. They might miss important classes, research deadlines, or even face trouble with their visa status if they get stuck outside the country for too long.

Risk of Policy Changes Without Warning

New travel bans or visa restrictions can happen almost overnight. If the government puts a new country on a banned list, people from that place can be denied entry even if their visa was just issued. That’s why universities are stressing the need to check for up-to-date news and to be extra careful about planning travel.

Digital Privacy and Personal Data

With reports of border officials searching phones and laptops, people must be aware that anything stored digitally might be looked at. This includes emails, photos, social media posts, or anything else on your device. Universities are telling their students to think ahead about what they keep on their devices and what could be shared if asked at the border.

What’s Next for International Students at US Universities?

International students are vital to universities like Duke University and many others in the United States 🇺🇸. They bring ideas, talent, and help make campuses diverse and vibrant. These new travel risks, however, make many worried about their ability to study, work, or see family outside the country.

Universities are responding by giving regular updates, holding advice sessions, and making sure students know where to get help. The current guidance may stay in place as long as there are concerns about sudden border changes or new travel bans.

Practical Steps for International Students Moving Forward

1. Stay Informed: Always check the latest advice from your university’s visa services. They are in touch with national developments and policy changes.
2. Keep Travel Essential: Only travel if you really must. Emergencies or truly necessary reasons should be the only ones considered.
3. Prepare Documents: Carry your papers in your hand luggage so you can show them right away if needed.
4. Be Ready for Questions: Know the answers to simple questions about your studies, research, or job and have supporting papers ready.
5. Manage Your Digital Data: Think about what is on your device before you cross the border. Remove or hide items you want to keep private.
6. Reach Out for Help: If you have questions or problems, use resources like Duke’s online form or talk to an immigration lawyer.

For more on what’s required at US borders and the latest updates on entry requirements, the US Customs and Border Protection website is a reliable source.

Conclusion: The Importance of Staying Informed and Flexible

International travel continues to bring unique challenges for students, staff, and green card holders linked with US universities. What’s happening now is part of a larger pattern where global politics and security concerns have real impacts on people’s everyday lives.

For those at Duke University and similar institutions, these warnings are about keeping everyone safe and prepared. By checking official guidance, speaking with university advisors, being careful about digital information, and planning for possible surprises at the border, students can lower their risk.

If you’re part of an international community at a US university, it’s more important than ever to stay connected with your campus visa services and pay attention to any new travel advisories. Plans may need to change quickly if new policies are announced, but with care and planning, you can still reach your goals. Always use trusted sources, like your university or official US government websites, for the latest information. This careful approach will help protect your studies, your legal status, and your peace of mind.

Learn Today

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) → A U.S. government agency responsible for border security and deciding who may enter the United States.
Secondary Inspection → An additional, more detailed examination some travelers undergo at U.S. ports of entry, involving extra questions or electronic checks.
Travel Ban → A government policy that restricts entry into the country for people from specific nations, sometimes with little notice.
Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder) → A non-citizen authorized to live and work in the U.S. permanently; also called a green card holder.
Visa Services → University offices that provide guidance and support for international students and staff regarding immigration regulations and travel concerns.

This Article in a Nutshell

Duke University urges international students, scholars, and staff—including green card holders—to avoid nonessential travel due to new border challenges. Sudden policy changes or increased inspections may delay, or even deny, reentry. Stay connected with your university visa office and carefully prepare documents and devices before any travel to minimize risk.
— By VisaVerge.com

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