We recognize that you may have specific questions about potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) visits to campus, as well as general best practices for visits by government agencies.
If an individual claiming to be a government agent contacts you or comes to your area requesting information or access, you should contact:
- University of Pittsburgh Police Department at 412-624-2121 for help in verifying credentials and clarifying the purpose of their visit, as appropriate; and then the Office of University Counsel at 412-624-5674 for advice about how to proceed.
- If the visit is related to a student, faculty or staff member on a Pitt-sponsored visa, you should next contact the Office of International Services (OIS) at 412-624-7120.
- Until the Pitt Police arrive, please ask the individuals to remain in the lobby/entrance area of your space, if applicable, and do not share information with them.
- If you are contacted by someone claiming to be a funding officer with whom you have not personally worked, get their information and check in with the Office of Sponsored Programs at OSP@pitt.edu to verify their credentials.
For additional context on anticipated visits to campus, U.S. Customs and Immigration Services started the Administrative Site Visit and Verification Program in July 2009 as an additional way to verify information in certain visa petitions, such as adjudicated H-1B visas. Under this program, immigration officers make unannounced site visits to collect information as part of a compliance review. Pitt has not experienced any out of the ordinary visits this year and we are currently not expecting any.