Types, Semantics, and Applications

Registration Process

Here is what should happen if you submit a Registration :

• A webpage should show your registration was accepted and show the details you just submitted. Please check the email address to make sure it is correct. If you submit a registration with a typo in the email address, we have no way to reach you. If you did make a typo in the email field, you should immediately email summerschool@cs.uoregon.edu with the correction.
• You should immediately receive an automated email confirmation of your registration.
• If you are applying for a grant, when we receive the required recommendation email, you will receive an email acknowledging the recommendation has been received.
• About 10 days after the deadline, you will receive an email indicating your acceptance into the program. At that time, we will give you the website for housing. When we have notified everyone of their acceptance, we will post a note on this website that we have done so. When we post it, if you did not get an email from us, you should send an email to summerschool@cs.uoregon.edu asking about your status, as we have may have misplaced your application.
  Acceptance Notifications have been sent.

  As of April 8, you should have received a notification of your acceptance status, and a letter of Invitation, if accepted.
• If you are applying for a grant, it takes longer to decide how the grant money will be allocated. At some point, you will receive another email stating your grant status. When we have notified everyone of their grant status, we will post a note on this website that we have done so. If you asked for a grant and did not get an email from us, you should send an email to summerschool@cs.uoregon.edu asking about your grant status, as we have possibly misplaced your grant application.
  Fellowship Notifications have been sent.

  As of April 22, you should have received a notification of your fellowship status.
• A few days after your acceptance email, or grant status if you asked for a grant, you will receive an email containing a Letter of Invitiation for US border entry. (You can ignore the Letter of Invitiation if you are already in the US.)
• Sometime before May 2, you will need to pay your registration, and room and board.

Travel Documents

People residing in the US will probably not need travel documents to attend OPLSS@BU 24.

US citizens residing outside the US will probably only need to show their US passport to enter the US.

Foreign Participants

It is never too early to work on obtaining travel papers to the US. Non-citizens of the US, you will need the following:

• Travel papers to leave your country

  Most governments do not care if you leave their country, but you should check whether your government requires you to file any papers.

• Travel papers to enter the United States

  Most governments do care if you enter their country, and the US is no exception. The US has a Visa Waiver Program with many countries. The Visa Waiver Program does not apply to all citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries.

  OPLSS is a Conference, not a Course of Study
  You are coming here on business to attend a scientific conference. OPLSS does not grant academic credit. Although OPLSS takes place on a university campus, it is not a course of study. You need to be clear that you are looking for a B1 business visa . Do not under any circumstances say or agree that you need a student visa. Once you say that you want a student visa or that you want to "study in the US," you will never be allowed to come to the US unless you have been accepted into a US degree-granting program.

  It is illegal for OPLSS to issue you an I-20 or any other SEVIS document, because you will not receive academic credit from OPLSS. These are only required for a student visa. If you are asked for these documents, be very clear that you want a B-1 visa. You will not be able to attend OPLSS on a student visa. If some other institution gave you a SEVIS document, and you will be using it to enter the US, please ask the entity that gave you the SEVIS document about your visa limitations. If necessary, direct them to this page for clarification.

  • For travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, you will need
    • A Passport from your country of citizenship

      To enter the US, your country of citizenship must issue you a passport. Also, you may need your passport as identification while here.

    • Electronic pre-approval from the US

      When you fill out the electronic pre-approval form, and when questioned at the border, be clear that you are coming here for a scientific conference. Even though you will have to say Boston University and OPLSS, you want to emphasize that it is business purpose. Do not write school, study or student. Education purposes require a student visa, even from visa waiver countries, and OPLSS cannot supply you with the required paperwork to obtain a student visa.

  • For travel to the United States without the Visa Waiver Program, you will need
    • A Passport from your country of citizenship

      To enter the US, your country of citizenship must issue you a passport. Also, you may need your passport as identification while here.

    • A business visa from the US

      The decision to grant a visa is left up to the US ambassador to your country and there is no appeal, so be prepared. Talk to others from your country who have attended conferences in the US. Different Ambassadors require different levels of evidence. OPLSS has no influence with the US ambassador to your country. If your interview goes badly, and you are asked to do another interview, plan to bring more evidence. If you have no more evidence, then there is no point in another interview.

      Be prepared for your visa interview. Do not have anything sent directly to the embassy. Bring all materials with you to the interview. If some piece of evidence is not in English or not in the interviewer's language (the locally spoken language of that embassy), it must be translated by a certified translator. This means, if you are studying in a country which speaks a language other than your native language, documents from your country of citizenship must be translated. Here are the things you may need at your interview at the US embassy:

      • DS-160 Vias Application Form Complete the form online, but bring the confirmation page showing you completed the form and paid the application fee.
      • A valid passport issued by your country of citizenship
      • A photo (a printed copy of the photo you uploaded as part of the DS-160 application
      • Be prepared to submit all details of social media that you use.
      • Bank statements or other evidence that you will be able to pay all the costs of the trip.
      • Letters or printed social media showing you will not overstay your visa. The interviewer must be assured that you are not a "risk to emigrate to the US". Evidence of this type can be communications with relatives and friends in your country showing they are dependent on your return and\or communications from your employer or academic advisor showing it would be more advantageous for you to remain in your country/program than relocate to the US.

        It is not useful to bring evidence of relatives or friends currently living in the US, or any ties to the US, as this indicates you may be a risk to emigrate to the US.

      We will issue a letter of invitation which you may also take to your visa interview, but it is not requried. The letter is mostly used when you are at the US border.

    Remember that neither electronic pre-approval nor a visa guarantee that you are actually allowed in the US. On the day you arrive, a US border guard will decide whether you are allowed in the US. For that interview, the invitation letter may be useful. On the other hand, this is where a participant was interogated for hours because she used the word "school." Be careful which words you use at the border. Remember, you are here to attend a scientific conference on computer science, not to attend a school of any kind. There are currently no requirements for immunization, but that may change, so check the US Department of Homeland Security website to make sure you are prepared.

• Travel papers to return to your country

  Before you leave your country, make sure you have any papers necessary to return to your country, probably, a passport.

Addresses for Travel Documents

When you get here, the building you will be staying in is:

10 Buick Street
Boston MA 02215
        

The contact information for visa applications is

Ankush Das
Boston University
CDS 721
665 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA  02215
617-353-2000
ankushd@bu.edu
        

Letter of Invitiation

Upon acceptance into OPLSS, you will receive a Letter of Invitiation.

The letter of invitation has specific language for the US State Department during your visa interview, and specific language for the US Customs and Border Protection officers. Whether you go for a visa interview or obtain clearance through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, you should have the letter of invitation ready at the border.

Travel to Boston University Campus

Getting to Campus from the Mid-Altlantic or other Amtrak locations

Take an Amtrak train to Boston Back Bay Station (BBY).

Exit the front of Back Bay Station to Dartmouth Street, and turn right to walk North along Dartmouth Street to Boylston Street, about 2½ blocks. Across Boylston Street on your left (the northwest corner), you will see a subway entrance marked "Copley - to Boston College...". Go down to the subway station and pay $2.40 at the fare vending machine for a CharlieTicket. Board a B Green Line train to Boston College/Comm. Ave. The Boston College/Comm. Ave trains run at least every 13 minutes from 5:30 AM until midnight. You can ask the conductor if the train goes to Amory Street Station. Get off the Green Line at the Amory Street Station. See "Checking In below"

Amtrak to Boston South Station

If you take an Amtrak train to Boston South Station (BOS), From the South Station, pay $2.40 at the fare vending machine for a CharlieTicket. Board a Red Line train to Alewife. The Alewife trains run at least every 11 minutes from 6 AM until 12:30 AM. You can ask the conductor if the train goes to Park Street Station.

Travel two stations to Park Street Station Get off the Red Line at the Park Street Station and board a B Green Line train to Boston College/Comm. Ave. The Boston College/Comm. Ave trains run at least every 13 minutes from 5:30 AM until midnight. You can ask the conductor if the train goes to Amory Street Station. Get off the Green Line at the Amory Street Station. See "Checking In below"

Amtrak to Boston North Station

If you take an Amtrak train to Boston North Station (BON), exit the Amtrak station on Causeway Street. Across Causeway Street, walk South along Haverhill Street. About ½ blocks from Causeway Street, there is a sign on the sidewalk labeled "Green Line/Orange Line" pointing into the building subway entrance. Go into the building, down the escalator, and pay $2.40 at the fare vending machine for a CharlieTicket. Board a D or E Green Line train to Riverside or Heath Street. The Green Line trains run at least every 13 minutes from 5:30 AM until midnight. You can ask the conductor if the train goes to Government Station.

Travel two stations to Government Station. Get off the D or E Green Line at the Government Station and board a B Green Line train to Boston College/Comm. Ave. The Boston College/Comm. Ave trains run at least every 13 minutes from 5:30 AM until midnight. You can ask the conductor if the train goes to Amory Street Station. Get off the B Green Line at the Amory Street Station. See "Checking In below"

Getting to Campus from Logan International Airport

From Logan International Airport (BOS) you can can take a taxi, rideshare service, or mass transport.

To access public transportation from Logan Airport, go to the Arrivals level and follow signage for the On-Airport Shuttle. Take Route 22, 33, 55, or 66 to the MBTA Airport Station. Go to the subway station and pay $2.40 at the fare vending machine for a CharlieTicket. Board a Blue Line train to Bowdoin. The Bowdoin trains run at least every 13 minutes from 5:30 AM until 12:30 AM. You can ask the conductor if the train goes to Government Center Station.

Travel four stations on the Blue Line to the Government Center Station. At the Government Center Station, get off the Blue Line and board a B Green Line train to Boston College/Comm. Ave. The Boston College/Comm. Ave trains run at least every 13 minutes from 5:30 AM until midnight. You can ask the conductor if the train goes to Amory Street Station. Get off the Green Line at the Amory Street Station.

Driving Directions

Checking In

From the Amory Street Station, walk West to St. Paul Street/Buick Street (less than one block). Turn right to walk North on Buick Street. Walk less than one block along Buick Street. On your left, you will see a sign that says "Buick Street Market & Cafe" by stairs that go up.

The entrance to the 10 Buick Street residence hall is at the top of the stairs and to the right. The entrance to the Buick Street Market is to the right of the residence hall entrance. Once you enter the residence hall, inform the security desk that you are checking in for a conference; they will open the gates for you to walk to the front desk. The front desk will be staffed from 6am to midnight. If you arrive outside of these times, there will be a phone number posted at the front desk to reach an on-call staff member who will be able to assist you.

Checking Out

When you check out, make sure to leave the keys to your room and your ID with swipe access to the residence hall at the front desk before you leave. There is a $125 fee for lost keys and a $25 fee for lost IDs. If there is no staff member at the front desk when you check out, there will be a box where you can put your keys and ID.

Things to bring

• For Foreign Participants: If you are not from North America, bring a power converter for your laptop. US power outlets are 120 volts at 60 hertz. If you come here without a power adapter, it may take you a number of phone calls and missed lectures to figure out where to get one, so it is probably easier to obtain one from your local apothecary (or whoever sells them in your country) before coming. Of course, other small appliances will also need an adapter.
• Shampoo, toothpaste and other personal grooming items except soap.
• Hair dryer
• Clothes iron (if desired — not usually needed, OPLSS@BU is very informal)
• Extra blanket (if desired)

Campus Ammenities and Features

Meal Schedule

If you have a housing package, your meals are avaiable at Marciano Commons, 100 Bay State Road Information about Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Gluten, and other food allegies is available online, or you can ask the chef at Marciano. The hours are:

• Monday-Saturday
  • Breakfast 7AM-11:30AM
  • Lunch 11:30AM-5:00PM
  • Dinner 5PM-9PM
• Sunday
  • Brunch 10AM-4PM
  • Dinner 4PM-9PM

Campus Map

A campus map is available online.

Residence Hall

Housing will be provided at 10 Buick Street.

Dining Hall

meals will be served at The Marciano Commons Dining Area.

To get from the Residence Hall to Marciano Commons, go South along Buick Street to Commonwealth Avenue and turn left to proceed East along Commonwealth Ave. Continue East three blocks over the freeway to Granby Street. Turn left on Granby St. and go one block North to Bay State Road. Turn right on Bay State Road and go two blocks East to Marciano Commons.

Lecture Hall

The lectures will be given in room B50 of the Stone Science Building.

To get from the Residence Hall to the Stone Science Building, go South along Buick Street to Commonwealth Avenue and turn left to proceed East along Commonwealth Ave. Continue East three blocks over the freeway to Granby Street. The Stone Science Building is on the corner of Commonwealth & Granby. The most convenient door for room B50 is the Granby Street entrance.

To get from the Marciano Commons to the Stone Science Building, go West two blocks along Bay State Road to Granby Street. Turn left on Granby St. and proceed ½ block. The Stone Science Building is on the corner of Commonwealth & Granby. The most convenient door for room B50 is the Granby Street entrance.

Other Locations near OPLSS@BU Residence Hall

CVS Pharmacy

South along Buick Street one block, across Commonwealth Ave.

Convenience Store: Buick Street Market

In the residence hall building

Target Grocery Store

South along Buick Street one block across Commonwealth Ave. Turn left on Commonwealth Ave to proceed one black east to corner of Commonwealth Ave & Amory St.

BU Fitness and Recreation Center

While you are participating in OPLSS@BU, you can purchase a pass to access the BU FitRec facilities.

Passes for one or two weeks and day passes are available The daily passes are good on the day of purchase, and the weekly passes begin the day of purchase, so you should not purchase a pass until you get here and are ready to use the facilities.

Since you are not a Boston University student with BU ID, after you purchase your pass, you will have to check in at the front desk to obtain entry. You can contact the front desk at 617-358-3740 with any questions.

BU Campus Guest Wireless Access

On the Boston University campus, you can access the Guest Wireless Network or eduroam. To see if your institution provides eduroam credentials, contact your network administrator before coming to Boston University campus.