International Student Information

• Clothing: You should bring clothing for all weather. Temperatures in RI range from 18–37 degrees celsius in summer (June–September) to -3–6 degrees celsius with snow in winter (December–March). To help prepare, you can view monthly weather projections on weather.com.
• Art supplies: Wait until you arrive to buy art materials. You will receive very specific supply lists for each class you take here.
• Housing supplies and bedding: Buy these when you arrive or order ahead and schedule delivery to RISD.

Upon landing in the US, be ready to present all important documents to Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These include:

• original I-20 (bring any previous I-20s you have as well)
• passport (must be valid for at least six months after arrival)
• F-1 student visa (Canadian citizens do not require a visa before entry)
• declaration of finances form and supporting bank statements (same as those that you brought to your visa interview)
• RISD acceptance letter
• any other official forms of personal identification

Your airline will give you a form to complete and then give to the CBP officer as you go through Customs. The information you provide will be entered into the automated I-94 system and become your arrival/departure document.

• Provide all necessary documents to the CBP officer (see “Arriving in the US” above) for the CBP inspection process.
• Upon review, the CBP officer will stamp your I-20 and F-1 student visa. Make sure to enter the US with the F-1 student visa and that the CBP does not record you as a tourist.
• If the officer determines that they need to search your electronic device(s)—these are subject to search—you may need to complete a supplemental questions for visa applicants form.
• If you experience trouble making it through Customs, call RISD Public Safety at +1 401 454–6376. They will put you in touch with us for advice.
• Direct any complaints you have about CBP to either a CBP supervisor or commander. If you need to discuss your complaint further, speak with your international student advisor when you arrive on campus.

Once you arrive, CBP records your information electronically. This will become your I-94 record. To retrieve your electronic I-94*, do as follows:

• Get your most recent I-94 from the Department of Homeland Security’s official I-94 website. (You will read the notification and select “Consent and Continue” to proceed.)
• Provide the required information and select “Next” to access to your current I-94.
• Check your I-94 to confirm your name, all personal information, visa category and expiration date of authorized stay. Your expiration date should read “D/S” (Duration of Stay). The name on your I-94 should match that on your passport.
• If you find errors, contact CBP as soon as possible. You can contact us for help reaching CBP.
• If you don’t find errors, print your I-94. Keep it with your I-20 and passport.
• When you arrive in the U.S., you will need to complete an online Arrival Form via the Terra Dotta student portal.  The Arrival Form must be completed within 15 days of the Program Start Date listed on your Form I-20.  Please review this guide before starting the check-in process.
• You will not receive a paper I-94 unless you enter the US by car or boat.

For questions about move-in or living on campus, please see Residence Life.

From Interstate 95 North or South to Providence, take Exit 37B to Memorial Boulevard. At the fourth light, turn left onto Washington Place (which becomes Waterman Street).

From Interstate 195 westbound, take the South Main Street exit. Go straight through the traffic light at the end of the off-ramp, and after two blocks you are on the RISD campus.

Visitor parking is available at metered spots on the street as well as at the North Main/Steeple Streets MetroPark lot (reduced Museum rate available). On weekends only, visitors may park for free in RISD faculty/staff lots.

Amtrak serves the Providence rail station with Acela and Regional trains. The MBTA Commuter rail service also has regular trips to and from Boston and points between. Commuter trains connect to Boston’s public transportation system (the “T”) via Ruggles, Back Bay and South Station.

One popular and inexpensive way to get to and from Providence is by bus. MegaBus, FlixBus, Peter Pan and Greyhound connect to major cities in the region and often offer special rates for fares booked in advance.

RIPTA operates public transit services throughout Rhode Island. The Providence hub, Kennedy Plaza, is located just across the Providence River. By presenting their RISD ID when they board, students are able to ride RIPTA buses free of charge. All-day passes are $6 and discounted weekly and monthly fares can be purchased as well.

Uber and Lyft both operate in Providence. Zipcar also has locations throughout the city (particularly convenient for Home Depot and grocery store trips). Parking on or near campus can be a challenge when school is in session so consider carpooling or using alternative means of travel, if possible.

Providence is a bike-friendly city (though the hills on the east side of town can be tricky). Bike lanes are present throughout the city and protected bike paths connect Providence to nearby towns in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. You’ll find plenty of places to lock your bike on campus and if your interest in riding a bike goes beyond commuting, RISD has a popular cycling team you can join.

RISD Rides is a free late-night shuttle service provided for RISD students, staff and faculty. It provides a flexible, on-demand, door-to-door service from any location within the designated service area to any college building. RISD students are also able to use the Brown University Shuttle with their student ID.

It’s worth mentioning that Providence has a ferry terminal in Fox Point with round-trip service to historic Newport, RI multiple times per day during the summer season. For those looking to visit Block Island, ferries run to and from Point Judith in southern Rhode Island.