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International Affairs

International Travel Suggestions

If you are traveling during a time when our office is not providing transportation to and from the airport, below is a list of various options and estimated costs that will help you to make your way to SDSU. Please contact these companies directly to reserve your transportation.

Jefferson Bus Lines

Jefferson Bus Lines is an economical way of traveling to Brookings from Sioux Falls. Tickets are estimated at around $29.00 USD (one way.)

  • Option 1: Pre-book your tickets.
    • Departure City would be Sioux Falls, SD and Arrival City would be Brookings, SD.
    • Buses leave from Sioux Falls once a day at 10:30 a.m. and arrive in Brookings at 11:15 a.m.
  • Option 2: If you have not pre-booked your bus ticket, you can call the Yellow Cab Company from the airport.
    • Yellow Cab Company phone number: 605-336-1616
    • Have them bring you to:
      • Cross Couriers, Ltd. 1500 West Russell Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
      • Cross Couriers will sell you a one-way bus ticket from Sioux Falls, SD to Brookings, SD.
      • Business Hours until 7 p.m. daily.

Flight Delays or Late Arrivals

If you arrive after 10:30 a.m., you will be purchasing a bus ticket for the following day, in which case, you will need a place to stay. The following hotels are located near the Sioux Falls airport and provide free transportation to and from the airport to the hotel.

Other Transportation Options:

Brookings Area Transit Authority (BATA)

Arriving in Brookings

Living On Campus

If you are living on campus, you will need to contact Housing and Residential Life department directly to make arrangements for moving into the residence halls. If you would like to apply for on-campus housing you may do so by going to SDSU Residential Life. If you are under 20 years of age, living on-campus is mandatory.

Application for Living On Campus

If you have problems with the online housing application, please list the state as SD and the zip code as 57007. In the comments section, please list your location back home (permanent address) and the Residential Life office will manually change it.

Early Arrival Housing Application

If you are arriving early, please be aware that on-campus housing might not be available on this date. You will need to complete the Early Arrival Housing Application and indicate the date of your arrival.

Local Hotels located in Brookings:

As soon as you have received your Visa, PLEASE let us know by e-mailing Islamiah Nurislamiah Mohamad Fuad.

Again, we would also appreciate you sending us all of your travel details as soon as possible. This should include arrival date, arrival time, airline and flight number, and port of entry to the United States.

If, at any time, there are flight delays during your trip, please call our office at 605-688-4122.

Before Your Trip Check List

Have you made arrangements for housing?

  • Students are responsible for their housing arrangements. For international students who are under the age of 20, or graduated from high school within two years, they are required to stay in a residence hall on-campus.

This is not an exhaustive list; there may be other landlords who also have units. And remember, it is important to start looking early because rental properties can go fast, especially when other college students are looking for housing.

Have you printed out confirmation for housing?

  • Once you received the confirmation of an on-campus or off-campus housing, please print out that confirmation and have it available upon your arrival. Please make sure this sheet contains the address or your residence hall/apartment, and the contact person’s name and phone. This information can be helpful when using a shuttle/taxi service or asking people for directions.

Have you checked local weather conditions?

  • Weather in South Dakota can often be unpredictable. You may need to be prepared to stay in a hotel in case of bad weather. Please be aware of the local weather conditions before your arrival. For a listing of current weather conditions please visit KELOLAND Weather. Please dress accordingly and bring suitable clothing for warm and cold climates.

Have you packed your important documents?

  • Please make sure to carry the important non-immigration documentations with you and have them available when you enter the border. You will need to travel with the original valid I-20 Form, U.S. visa, your passport and all the additional supporting documents that are required by the government.

Do you have some cash and a credit card that supports U.S. currency?

  • Once you arrived in the U.S., you will need to use U.S. dollars. Some taxi/shuttle services or stores only accept U.S. cash or checks, while most of the locations accept international credit card in U.S. currency. You may have opportunities to change currency at some airports. For your convenience, please be prepared before the trip.

There are many things to think about. Please personalize your own checklist. Have a nice and safe trip!