What is International SOS (ISOS)?

Sydney Opera House

Columbia University has adopted International SOS (ISOS) as the 24/7 emergency assistance provider for individuals on Columbia Travel. Their worldwide helpdesks can assist with urgent medical issues, security and logistical questions, medical advice, or other concerns and situations that may arise. ISOS can be contacted by phone, online, or using the ISOS app (available in your mobile phone's app store). You can view the ISOS Assistance App 6.0 on the ISOS website. 

The University uses the ISOS Global Risk Ratings to fulfill the International Travel Planning Policy (ITPP) pre-departure travel requirements, such as pre-travel itinerary review and trip registration.

The Global Risk Ratings are intended to provide travelers with safety, security, and health advice for their destination(s). Travelers should visit the ISOS Global Risk Ratings to determine the highest level of risk of their proposed location. (Location can refer to country, city, or region.)

University policy requires students and employees (Officers of Administration and Support Staff) traveling to locations defined as Medium, High, and Extreme Risk to have their itinerary reviewed by ISOS. While this is required for Students, Officers or Administration and Support Staff, it is highly recommended for faculty.

University policy requires any affiliate traveling to a country with an ISOS Elevated Evacuation status must have their itinerary review by ISOS. 

Per the International Travel Planning Policy, registration in ISOS MyTrips is required for all travelers on CU-related travel or while conducting any CU-related international activities. This registration provides the university with the traveler’s trip details and allows our office to assist in an emergency. 

International SOS offers a training hub for those preparing to go abroad. Courses range in topics such as Food and Water Safety, Hotel Safety, Petty Crime, and more. 

To visit the ISOS Training Hub, please click here. 

Upon course completion, users have the option of printing a completion certificate. 

Columbia University's agreement with ISOS provides a number of resources and services, including online, medical, travel, security and enhanced emotional support. 

Online Resources

  • Communications portal
  • Emailed health, safety, and security reports
  • Emergency records
  • Country briefs
  • Global Risk Ratings 

Medical Assistance

  • Arrangements and Payment for medical evacuations and repatriations
  • Emergency & routine medical advice
  • Travel Health Information
  • Medical & Dental referrals
  • Out-patient case management
  • Dispatch of Medication & Medical Supplies*
  • Medical Monitoring
  • Guarantee of Medical Expenses*
  • Access to International SOS Clinics*

*ISOS is NOT health insurance. 

Travel Assistance 

  • Emergency message transmission
  • Emergency translation & interpreter services
  • Lost document advice & assistance
  • Emergency cash advance*
  • Post-departure trip interruption reimbursement (up to $2,000)
  • Trip delay/quarantine benefit (up to $2000/ $200 per day)

Security Assistance 

  • Arrangements and payment of evacuations 
  • 24 hour access to SOS Security Specialists
  • Real time security and safety information
  • Access to Security Crisis Center

Enhanced Emotional Support

  • Connect with counseling services through ISOS
  • Chat capabilities in place of a phone call
  • Up to 5 sessions per person, per trip via telephone, teleconference or in-person (depending on location)
  • Assistance with locating a provider who speaks the traveler's preferred language and who has a high standard of care
  • Can connect the traveler with Columbia's Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), or CUIMC Student Health Service's Mental Health Services (MHS), for continuity of care. 

 

You can review additional, detailed information regarding ISOS service benefits on the ISOS Membership E-Guide.  

For more information, visit the Columbia ISOS Global Assistance Program page.

Travelers are encouraged to consider downloading the ISOS Assistance app (available on Apple, Android, and Windows platforms) on their smartphone prior to their departure using the Columbia membership ID 11BSGC000064.

Doing so will sign the traveler up to receive health, safety, and security alerts based upon location, give them the ability to speak with ISOS at the touch of a button (which provides medical assistance and coordination for University-related travel abroad, including repatriations/evacuations), and allow the University to better assist you in the event of an emergency while on Columbia-related international travel.

Faculty and Staff

For Columbia-related International Travel, all faculty and staff should use ISOS.  

For Personal Travel:

"When you are covered under the University's Basic Term Life Insurance Plan from New York Life Group Benefit Solutions, you and your eligible dependents are also covered for emergency travel assistance when traveling 100 or more miles from home or when traveling in a foreign country for up to 180 days. Travel can be personal or work-related for situations as serious as needing evacuation from a foreign country to something as simple as visa information. Find help during travel emergencies in the U.S. and abroad."  New York Life Group Benefit Solutions (NYL GBS) Secure Travel is the provider. View Secure Travel flyer

For more information, please visit Human Resources Travel Resources. 

ISOS FAQs

ISOS MyTrips is where CU travelers upload their CU-related international travel details.

All CU-related international travel is required to be registered in ISOS MyTrips. 

No, registering your travel does not mean your trip is approved unless you have followed the pre-departure requirements and secured appropriate approvals.

No, trip registration in ISOS MyTrips is a separate process from the ISOS Pre-Trip Itinerary Review. All CU-related international travel must be registered, however an ISOS Pre-Trip Itinerary Review is only required for certain locations.

Additionally, submitting the ISOS Pre-Trip Itinerary Review does not register your trip.

Once you have registered your trip, ISOS sends an automated email to you. This email provides information on your location and also highlights CU’s travel policies.

If you have not reviewed the Planning CU-related International Travel page, this email provides the link for you to do so. This will help you make sure your trip is in compliance with CU policies.

TravelTracker is what administrators use to ensure compliance with the travel policies and to assist our office with traveler accountability during emergencies abroad.

If you support more than five travelers for your department, you can submit a request to our office to become a TravelTracker Administrator.

For more information, visit the Columbia ISOS Global Assistance Program page.

If you need an ISOS wallet card, please send an email with your mailing address to [email protected] or you can download one here.