Visa Information:

It is your responsibility to ensure that you hold a valid visa to enter the United States to attend the Institute.  As the process of applying for and obtaining a visa can be quite lengthy you should act as soon as practicable to secure a visa.

As an accepted participant to BIARI, you may be eligible to apply for two distinct types of visa: B-1 and J-1.  Which visa is best for you may depend on your country of origin.  We recommend that you check with your nearest US consulate/embassy to find out which type of visa you may be able to obtain in the shortest delay. For a complete list of U.S. consulates abroad and estimated wait times for visa interviews, click here.

If you will be applying for a B-1 visa, then the attached letter of invitation should suffice to apply.  If you will be applying for a J-1 visa then Brown University will need time to process additional paperwork on your behalf.  It is thus of utmost importance that you let us at the BIARI office BIARI@brown.edu know as soon as possible of your intention to apply for a J-1 visa. In this case, Brown's Office of International Student & Scholar Services may also be able to assist you.

If you are unsure of your visa or visa-waiver status, please visit the U.S. State Department website.

For questions concerning Exchange Visitor (J) Visas, click here.
For questions concerning Visistor (B-1) Visas, click here.

Getting Here:

You should make travel arrangements as early as possible as fares tend to increase dramatically closer to the travel date.

If you would like to apply to have your air ticket covered by BIARI, please notify us as soon as possible via e-mail so that we can make arrangements with Garber Travel.

Kennedy Plaza, the local bus service hub, and Union Station, home to trains from Amtrak and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), are both in downtown Providence, just a short walk or taxi ride from campus.

T.F. Green Airport (PVD) is 10 miles south, in Warwick, R.I.

The nearest major international airport is Logan International Airport (BOS) in Bostan, MA. The Peter Pan Bus Company operates a shuttle between Logan Airport and Kennedy Plaza (recommended). Click here for fares and schedule. There is no need to purchase a ticket in advance. The MBTA also operates a train that runs between Logan Airport and Providence.  Finally, Amtrak has a convenient train that runs from Newark Airport, NJ to Providence, RI.

The Brown Campus:

Brown’s campus is composed of 238 buildings and sits on 143 acres in Providence, the capital of Rhode Island. Most of Brown’s buildings and facilities are within a few blocks of the campus center, called the College Green. To see a map of Providence and of the Brown campus, click here.

Brown University's faculty and students are engaged in a wide range of research activities, frequently making important contributions in the humanities, the social sciences, the life sciences and the physical sciences. To find out more about Brown's extensive research infrastructure, and research projects being conducted all over the world, click here.

The Brown University library system contains more than 6,000,000 items, including bound volumes, periodicals, maps, sheet music and manuscripts. Other facilities include several hundred personal workstations, computers and terminals located around campus.

Around Providence:

Known as America’s “Renaissance City,” Providence is a center of arts, culture and education. Brown sits amidst Providence’s College Hill, next door to RISD, the country's premier art school, and surrounded by dozens of historic homes and landmarks. Also on the Hill is vibrant Thayer Street, with ample shopping, dining and entertainment. College Hill is also a short walk from downtown and the Providence Place Mall.