Arriving from your home country into the United States Have all of your important documents ready to present at the Customs & Border Patrol at the airport. These include: ● Original I-20 (if you have any previous I-20s, you should bring those as well) ● Passport (valid for at least 6 months into the future) ● F-1 Student Visa (for Canadians: you will receive your F-1 Student Visa stamp upon entry into the U.S.) ● Declaration of finances and supporting bank statements (the documents that you took to your visa interview) ● Acceptance letter to RISD ● You will complete a form with the airline that will be given to the Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) Officer. This form will be entered into the automated I-94 system and will become your arrival/departure record. ● Any other forms of identification

Going through Immigration 1. Have all of your documents ready to provide to the Customs & Border Patrol Officer **If you are coming from Canada, this is where you will obtain your F-1 Student Visa stamp in your passport.** Your I-20 and your F-1 Student Visa will be reviewed, your I-94 form will be entered in the database and your passport will be stamped by the officer. Make sure to enter the U.S. using your F-1 Student Visa!! Make sure Customs & Border Patrol DOES NOT enter you as a tourist!! 2. Be polite and answer any questions they ask you. 3. On occasion you may be asked further questions. It is important to have all required documents in order to provide supporting evidence of your F-1 status. 4. If you have any trouble going through immigration, contact RISD Public Safety at (401) 454-6376 and they will be able to put you in touch with the Office of International Student Services.

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After you arrive in the United States Once you arrive in the U.S. the Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) will enter your arrival information electronically and this becomes your I-94 record. You will be able to retrieve your I-94 record electronically. * You will receive a paper I-94 card only if you enter the U.S. by car or by boat. Please follow instructions to print out your I-94 card: 1. In your internet browser, go to: www.cbp.gov/I94 2. Fill out your information in the fields provided 3. Check the correct name spelling, all personal information, the visa category and expiration date of your authorized stay. The name on your I-94 should match your passport 4. If errors are found, CBP should be contacted as soon as possible. There is a CBP Office outside of Providence, RI 5. If there are NO errors you must print out the I-94 record and keep it with your passport and I-20 6. When you arrive on campus, bring all immigration documents to RISD’s Office of International Student Services, located on the second floor of Carr House, 210 Benefit Street, Providence.

Arriving to Providence and to RISD There are many ways that you can get to Providence based on your personal preference and your budget! Below you will find a few of the ways that many RISD students travel to Providence and to RISD. Most students arrive in Providence by either first coming through Boston’s Logan Airport or through JFK Airport in New York and then taking a bus to Kennedy Plaza in Providence, which is only a 5 minute walk away from RISD’s main campus. For other locations at RISD, you can find directions via Google Maps using RISD's mailing address, 2 College Street or find directions below via air, train, bus or car.

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T.F. Green Airport (PVD) www.pvdairport.com 888 268-7222 401 737-8222 T. F. Green Airport is located about ten miles south of Providence. The most convenient mode of transportation to the campus is by shuttle (see below), which leaves the airport on the hour and arrives on campus about 25 minutes later. The airport is also served by the MBTA, which runs commuter trains to Providence and Boston, RIPTA (see below) bus routes and taxis. Getting to RISD from the Providence Airport RIPTA (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority) Buses: These are free with the use of a RISD ID or $2.00 cash without an ID. There are 2 buses that run to the Providence Airport: # 14 WestBay (stop ‘D’ in Downtown Providence at Kennedy Plaza), or #20 Elmwood Ave. (stop “A” in Kennedy Plaza). Airport Shuttle: The shuttle runs daily from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm The shuttle stops at 30 Waterman (in front of RISD Public Safety and Freshman Dormitories), as well as a few hotels in the area (Marriott, Renaissance Hotel, Biltmore and Westin) and the Providence Train Station. Please visit http://airporttaxiri.com/schedule/index.html for information about shuttle service

Logan International Airport (BOS) www.massport.com/logan-airport 800-23-LOGAN Logan International Airport is approximately fifty miles north of Providence, and is served by Peter Pan Bus Company. The ride to Providence takes about ninety minutes.

Train The train terminal is located in downtown Providence. From there, you can either walk up College Hill to RISD’s Main Campus (about 10 to 15 minutes) or take a cab. Please note that the walk may be difficult if you are bringing luggage with you. 3

Amtrak www.amtrak.com 800 USA-RAIL (800 872-7245) Amtrak is a private company that runs train service nationwide. MBTA Commuter Rail Service (from Boston to Providence via the Attleboro/Stoughton Line) www.mbta.com 800 392-6100 MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) is a Massachusetts based service that runs throughout the state of Massachusetts and extends to Providence, Rhode Island.

Bus The Peter Pan bus terminal is located just north of downtown Providence, and provides free shuttle service (with a RISD ID) to Kennedy Plaza, the downtown bus terminal. From there, you can either walk up to RISD’s Main Campus (about 10 to 15 minutes) or take a cab to campus. You can purchase bus tickets online and you should arrive at the stop at least 30 minutes before the bus departs. Private Bus Companies Peter Pan www.peterpanbus.com 401 751-8800 (toll-free 888 751-8800) Greyhound www.greyhound.com 800 229-9424 +1 402 330-8552 (international areas without toll-free access) 800 752-4841 (assistance for passengers with disabilities) 800 345-3109 (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf — TDD) MegaBus MegaBus provides a lower cost express service between Providence and New York City us.megabus.com 877 GO2-MEGA (462-6342) 4

RIPTA Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) For information on public transportation within Rhode Island, including buses, trolleys and the Providence/Newport water ferry service, visit www.ripta.com. RIPTA buses are free to RISD ID holders. Car From the north or south: From either I-95 South or I-95 North, take Exit 22A, Downtown, Memorial Boulevard. Proceed straight through the first three sets of traffic lights and enter the left-hand turn lane as you approach the fourth set of lights. Take a left over the bridge and proceed up the hill along Waterman Street to the third intersection. Turn left onto Prospect Street and proceed through the intersection with Angell Street. Woods-Gerry House is the next block, on the left. From the east: Follow I-195 West to exit 2, South Main Street. Travel down South Main Street to the first light. Turn right onto College Street. At the next stop sign, go straight up the hill. Turn left onto Prospect Street and proceed through the intersections with Waterman and Angell streets. Woods-Gerry House is the next block, on the left. From the northwest: Follow Route 146 to I-95 South. Once on I-95 South, follow the directions above (from the North and South). Rental Cars If you need a Rental Car here is a list of providers in the area. Alamo: 800 327-9633; www.alamo.com Avis: 800 831-2847; www.avis.com Budget: 800 527-7000; www.budget.com CarRentals.com: www.carrentals.com Car Rental Express: www.carrentalexpress.com Dollar Car Rental: 800 800-4000; www.dollar.com Hertz: 800 654-3131; www.hertz.com National: 800 227-7368; www.nationalcar.com Thrifty: 800 847-4389; www.thrifty.com

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Zipcar Zipcar is the world’s largest car sharing and car club service. It is an alternative to traditional car rental and car ownership. RISD students (18+) have the opportunity to join Zipcar’s car sharing program and get a car when they need one. More information can be found at www.zipcar.com. ** If you do not currently have a U.S. or international driver’s license and want to drive in the U.S., please contact RISD’s Office of International Student Services ([email protected]).

Where to Stay in Providence If you need a place to stay in Providence before you move into your campus residence hall, here are some options: Hotels and Bed and Bed & Breakfast Hostels near RISD Annie Brownell House http://www.anniebrownellhouse.com/ 400 Angell Street Providence, RI 401 454-2934 Christopher Dodge House Bed and Breakfast Hotel http://www.providence-hotel.com/ 11 West Park Street Providence, RI 401 351-6111 Comfort Inn/Pawtucket http://www.choicehotels.com/ Two George Street Pawtucket, RI 401 723-6700 Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Crossings http://www.crowneplaza.com/ 801 Greenwich Avenue Warwick, RI 401 732-6000

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Hampton Inn & Suites http://hamptoninn1.hilton.com/ 58 Weybosset Street Providence RI 02903 401-608-3500 Hilton Providence http://www1.hilton.com/ 21 Atwells Avenue Providence, RI 401-831-3900 Hotel Providence http://www.thehotelprovidence.com/ 311 Westminster Street Providence, RI 401-861-8000 Johnson & Wales Inn http://www.jwinn.com/ 213 Taunton Avenue Seekonk, MA 02771 508-336-8700, ext 1535 Marriott/Providence http://www.marriott.com/ One Orms Street Providence, RI 401-272-2400 Old Court Bed & Breakfast http://www.oldcourt.com/ 144 Benefit Street Providence, RI 401 751-2002 Providence Biltmore Hotel http://www.providencebiltmore.com/ 11 Dorrance Street at Kennedy Plaza Providence, RI

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401-421-0700 Providence Courtyard by Marriott http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pvddt-courtyard-providence-downtown 32 Exchange Terrace Providence, RI 02903 401-272-1191 Radisson Hotel/Providence Harbor http://www.radisson.com/ 220 India Street Providence, RI Renaissance Providence http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pvdbr-renaissance-providence-hotel 5 Avenue of the Arts Providence, RI 02903 401 276.0010 Residence Inn/Warwick http://www.residenceinn.com/ 500 Kilvert Street Warwick, RI 401 737-7100 Westin/Providence http://www.westin.com/ 1 West Exchange Street Providence, RI 401 598-8000 Wyndham Garden Providence http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/PVDGN/main.wnt 220 India Street Providence, RI 02903 401-272-5577

In summary Know your travel plans in advance and double check in case of schedule changes (because of

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inclement weather etc.) If you are unexpectedly delayed during move-in day or orientation, especially international student orientation, contact OISS to let us know.

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