Plan Your Visit Checklist

This checklist includes general requirements that apply to all users and is intended to help you prepare to visit Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL) High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) and Spallation Neutron Source (SNS). A PDF version is available here.

Some users may have unique requirements that are not listed. Contact the User Office for any questions. 

Experiment Preparation 

First-time users at HFIR and SNS:

1. Accept the User Agreement 

2. Read and understand the Neutron Sciences User Charter.

Training 

1. Complete prearrival, web-based training

  • ORNL Site Access Training
  • HFIR General User Access Training (GUAT for Neutron Scattering Users) for all HFIR experiments
  • SNS Experiment Hall Access Training for SNS experiments
  • Radiological Worker Training for HFIR and SNS Users

2. Schedule on-site training (You will be contacted by the User Office and instrument staff to schedule on-site trainings)

  • Practical Factors Evaluation (PFE) 
  • Instrument specific training 
  • User laboratory specific training 

Traveling to ORNL

Before Arriving 

1. Notify the User Office of your arrival date to ensure site access will be available. 

2. Arrange for accommodations at the ORNL Guest House or an offsite hotel.

Required Identification

1. Bring an ID that is compliant with the REAL ID Act for access to ORNL and the user facilities. 

Additional Identification for Foreign Nationals

1. Bring your current passport.

2. Bring visa documents or LPR “green” card (ex. I-797, DS-2019, I-20 forms or EAD cards).

3. Arrange to enter the United States with a Business-Type Visa, either a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) - Business or Visitor Visa - Business (B-1) status.

4. Receive a Visa Waiver-Business (VW-B) or B-1 status stamp at your port of entry.

Transportation to ORNL

If you plan not to have your own vehicle and are arranging for transportation to ORNL, please be aware no ride sharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, are permitted on the ORNL site. 

1. If traveling by plane, arrange for transportation to ORNL from the airport.

2. If traveling by car, know the driving directions to ORNL.

Getting Around ORNL

1. If you plan not to have a vehicle while at ORNL, understand the extra planning required for getting around the ORNL campus and monitoring your experiment.