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Information for International Students

Welcome to Brown!

Each year, Brown welcomes students from around the world who seek a university experience in the United States. Our students experience college life, new friends, and challenge themselves with academics and new ways of living and learning.

Language Proficiency

When choosing a course or program, please consider your level of English proficiency and familiarity with the subject matter. Some courses require substantially more reading and writing than others.

Important: Immigration Guidelines

Enrollment in Brown Summer Session Credit Courses and in certain Brown Pre-College non-credit programs, courses, or combination of courses that entail greater than 18 hours per week of in-class time requires that nonimmigrant students obtain an F-1 student visa, specifically:

1. Enrollment in Summer Session, IEP, SPARK, Leadership, or TheatreBridge and Playwrights Workshop require that non-immigrant students obtain an F-1 student visa;

2. Enrollment in any of the following pre-college non-credit courses, as their meeting times exceed 18 hours per week, requires that nonimmigrant students obtain an F-1 student visa;

2A	10077	CEMU0902	Electronic Music
3A	10063	CEBI0903	So You Want to Be a Doctor
3A	10098	CEEL0913	Intro The Craft of Journalism
3B	10284	CEPL0902	Science, Perception & Reality
3B	10092	CEMU0900	Intro to Music Production
3B	10081	CEVA0901	Digital Video Production

 

3. Enrollment in more than one pre-college course taken at the same time- i.e. in a combination of courses that in total meet more than 18 hours per week of in-class time - requires that nonimmigrant students obtain an F-1 student visa.

For those programs, courses, or combination of courses that require I-20 documentation, please ensure that you adhere to appropriate deadlines to submit application and immigration related materials:

Deadlines for Submitting Documentation – 2013

If your course begins on:	Your complete application and immigration-related materials must be received by:
June 16	April 26
June 23	May 3
June 30	May 10
July 7	May 17
July 14	May 22
July 21	May 31
July 28	June 7

Tourist Visas

Immigration rules allow visitors on a tourist visa (B-2 or visa waiver program (VWT)), who are coming to the U.S. primarily for tourism to take a short course of study which is not for credit and is less than 18 hours per week.  A consular officer will determine the visa that may be appropriate based on the purpose of a visitor’s travel and supporting documentation.

IMPORTANT: If your program is full-time - meets in excess of 18 hours per week - do not enter the U.S. as a tourist (e.g. B-2 or visa waiver program).

Application Instructions for International Students
Requiring an F-1 Visa

1. Complete your application
   A complete application includes:
   • A completed online application
   • A transcript from your current school
   • The application fee, payable online
   PLEASE NOTE: We cannot accept international checks for application fee payments. For specific application requirements, visit the "How to Apply" page for the program you choose. Also, the name on your application materials must match the name on your passport.
2. Await an admissions decision
   We make every effort to inform you via email of your admissions status within 10 business days.
3. Confirm your attendance and choose your courses
   Accepted students must confirm their attendance with a $300 deposit, payable online. We cannot accept international checks for deposit payments. Once this deposit is received and processed (usually 24 hours), students may enroll in courses at connect.brown.edu.
4. Make full payment and return important documents
   After making your course choices, you should make full payment of fees. Fees include: the course(s) selected, room and board, international processing fee (non-credit students only), health insurance fee, and any additional material/lab fees). If attending a full-time program or enrolled in a combination of courses that together meet in excess of 18 hours per week, you will also need to submit the below documents (select option that applies you):
   
   A) Students outside the U.S.  and in need of an F-1 Form I-20 to attend a full-time program
   • Student Acceptance Form
   • I-20 Request Form  
   • A copy of the student’s biographical page of their passport
     
     PLEASE NOTE: You must pay in full before we can process your I-20. The I-20 is required for the visa application process. Delays in payment will result in delays in arranging for a timely F-1 visa interview at a U.S. consulate.
   B) Students currently studying in the U.S. with an I-20 and F-1 Visa:
   If you currently have an I-20 from another school in the U.S. and intend to return to that school after the summer, submit copies of your:
   • Student Acceptance Form
   • I-20  
   • A copy of the student’s biographical page of their passport
   • F-1 Visa
   • I-94 arrival/departure record
   • A letter from your current school confirming your lawful status and eligibility to continue your education there after completion of your summer courses at Brown
   C) Students currently in the U.S. in status other than F-1:
   If you are currently in the U.S. in an immigration status other than F-1 you will need to submit copies of your:
   • Student Acceptance Form
   • A copy of the student’s biographical page of their passport
   • Visa
   • I-94 arrival/departure record
   • I-797 approval notice (if applicable)
5. Students outside the U.S. apply for an F-1 Visa upon receipt of I-20
   We will send the I-20 to you via international courier. You should receive your I-20 within 2 weeks following our receipt of full payment and forms listed in step #4 above. See below for Visa application instructions.
6. F-1 students only: If outside U.S. and issued I-20 by Brown, plan trip accordingly.
   F-1 students can enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 day prior to the start date of their program (see #5 on Form I-20 issued by Brown)

F-1 Visa Application Instructions

PLEASE NOTE: U.S. CONSULATE VISA PROCESSING AND VISA APPOINTMENT WAIT TIMES CAN BE LENGTHY. PLEASE ALLOW ADEQUATE TIME FOR PROCESSING.

For Canadian Citizens
Although you do not need an F-1 visa to enter the United States in F-1 status, you will need a Form I-20, and should follow the instructions above for obtaining that document. You must also pay the SEVIS fee and present your SEVIS receipt and I-20 at the U.S.—Canada land border or at the airport for lawful entry to the U.S. as an F-1 student. Please make sure at the Port of Entry that you receive an I-94 arrival/departure record (small white card) stamped “F-1 D/S” (D/S – Duration of Status).

To apply for an F-1 Visa:

1. Review Form I-20 and sign bottom of page 1 if all information is correct.
   If student is under the age of 18, parent must co-sign on bottom of page 1. If there are any questions about the Form I-20, please contact Continuing Education as soon as possible.
2. Pay the required SEVIS fee to the U.S. Government, and obtain a receipt.
   In order to apply for the F-1 Visa, you will need to provide receipt of payment of a $200 SEVIS fee to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. For payment instructions, please go to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Form I-901 Online Completion website at www.fmjfee.com. For more detailed information go to the SEVP website and review Frequently Asked Questions. This site also contains a link to Form I-901.
3. Complete online visa application forms and set up an F-1 visa appointment with a U.S. Embassy or Consulate
   Once you receive your I-20 from Brown University and have paid your SEVIS fee, you will be able to set up an appointment at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy nearest you. Please follow the guidelines of the individual U.S. Embassy or Consulate for requesting your F-1 Visa. Appropriate visa application fees will be assessed at the time of your appointment. Detailed instructions for the F-1 visa application can be found at the website of the U.S. consulate where you will apply.
   Listing of U.S. consulates: http://usembassy.state.gov/

Remember - At your Visa Appointment, you must present:

• SEVIS Form I-20
• I-901 SEVIS Fee Receipt
• Brown University Admissions Letter
• Official proof of funding or receipt of full payment for program
• Valid Passport

Resources

About the F-1 Student Visa

Countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

General Questions About Student Visas

Please consult the U.S. Department of State visa page where you will find links to specific consular locations and other helpful information at http://travel.state.gov.

Listing of U.S. consulates

http://usembassy.state.gov/

Visa Appointment Wait Times and Processing Times

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4638.html
Please plan ahead as processing times vary at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

 

Arriving in the U.S.

If requesting admission to enter the United States in F-1 status with an I-20 from Brown, you must present to the Port of Entry Officer:

• SEVIS Form I-20
• I-901 SEVIS Fee Receipt
• Brown University Admissions Letter
• Official proof of funding or receipt of full payment for program
• Valid Passport
• I-94 arrival / departure card (received from the airline during the flight

If requesting admission to enter the United States in a status other than F-1 or with an F-1 I-20 from another U.S. academic institution, please contact the appropriate party responsible for your immigration status about travel information.

Arriving at Brown University

All students should plan their travel to Brown based on a Sunday arrival and check-in time between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Students who arrive after 1 p.m. must check-in at the Office of Residential Life. Students who arrive after 9 p.m. will be housed in a temporary room for Sunday night and will receive their permanent residence hall assignment the next morning at Residential Life.

When you arrive at Brown University, you will need to bring your immigration documents to complete your mandatory registration to the Orientation session on the Sunday your program begins.

Students who are arriving from distances greater than 350 miles from Brown University may request to arrive early on the Saturday before their program begins. Permission for early arrival must be requested and approved in advance of the program via the online request form. There is a $150 early arrival fee for students arriving on Saturday.

Refund Policy

Please note: If you must withdraw from the program at any point, the application fee, program deposit ($300) and international processing fee will not be refunded. For more information on our refund policy, please see the Policies section of our website.

Wire Transfer

For wiring transfer instructions, please email cebilling@brown.edu

To assure proper and timely credit, it is vital the sender provide additional "special instruction" information which should include the student name and Student ID# which begins with ‘B’.

Some banks deduct a fee from funds wired, meaning the actual amount received and credited may be less than the intended origination amount. To ensure full credit at Brown, the remitter should add wire fee charges to the amount being wired.

Additional Questions

Please contact us by phone at (401) 863-7900 Monday through Friday from 8:30am until 5:00pm EST or by email at summer_i20@brown.edu.