STEP 1: Make it Official

• Ready to commit to BHSU? Make the international student enrollment deposit today! All F-1 international students must pay a $500 enrollment deposit to secure their admission. This deposit is due by July 1  for fall admission and December 1  for spring admission. The deposit is an advance on your international student fees, and will be applied to your bill once you start classes. This is not an additional fee but rather a pre-payment of part of your I-20 cost. Students should note this is non-refundable if you chose not to enroll, so please only pay the fee once you are ready to confirm your attendance to BHSU. If we do not receive confirmation of your payment by the deadline, your I-20 will be cancelled.
• J-1 students are exempt from the deposit.

Make Your Deposit

STEP 2: Set up your BHSU Accounts:

1. 1. First access your Yellow Jacket Email  account. This will be our official way to correspond with you in the future. If you need help setting up your Yellow Jacket Email,  click here.
   2. After accessing your email account, then set up your  MYBHSU/SNAP  account by using your email login credentials (email and password). This account is used to register for classes, pay your tuition, and more. Your account must be set up prior to your advising appointment, so please do this as soon as possible.

STEP 3: Immunization Records

STEP 4:Housing Reservations

BHSU residence halls offer a comfortable, convenient, and economical way for students to stay close to campus. For more information about living on campus, including pictures and videos of housing facilities, please see the Residence Life website. To request your room reservation, complete the short online form, and then submit the $100 housing deposit.

**Note: South Dakota Board of Regent Policy requires unmarried students to live-on campus during their first two years of school except upon appeal. If you are outside of this requirement, or a gradaute student, you are welcome to secure your own housing. 

STEP 5: Registering for classes

The International Relations and Global Engagement Office will guide you through the process of registering for courses prior to arriving on campus. In order to register for classes, you will need to meet (virtually) with your academic adviser. These appointments will be arranged for you approximately 1-2 months before the beginning of the semester. You can begin searching for classes that interest you using the links below. We will reach out to you to schedule the advising appointment with your advisor soon.

STEP 6: Health Insurance

South Dakota State law requires all F-1 and J-1 visa holders to possess an approved health insurance policy. You must enroll in and purchase the State of South Dakota Board of Regents' health insurance policy for international students each semester:  International Student Insurance

STEP 1: Book your Flight and Request Airport Pick-up

We offer complimentary pick-up at the Rapid City Regional Airport prior to the start of each semester (Fall and Spring) and before the start of the new student orientation.

If you wish to take advantage of our complimentary airport pick-up service, you must arrive at Rapid City Regional Airport on the dates specified below. To reserve the shuttle, email a screenshot of your flight confirmation to international@BHSU.edu. You will receive communications from our office via email about this service, so check your email regularly! If you are a new international student arriving by our shuttle, you are permitted to move onto campus early directly from the airport. If you do not arrive on our shuttle, you will need to secure your own check-in with Residence Life. 

Upcoming Services:

STEP 2: Clearing US Customs and Passport Control

We recognize your initial arrival in the United States may be stressful! The better prepared you are to talk with the Customs and Border Patrol agent upon your arrival at the US Port of Entry (usually, this will be the airport you arrive to from your international flight), the less stressful it will be. Here are some tips to help you prepare:

• Review the Study in the States website to learn about the arrival process and requirements.
• Ensure you have with (NOT in your checked baggage!) the following documents:
  • Passport with at least 6 months of validity
  • US visa (F-1 or J-1)
  • Original, signed I-20 (for F-1) or DS-2019 (for J-1)
  • Financial documents (recommended)
  • University admission letter (recommended)
  • Contact information for your DSO at BHSU (recommended)
• If you have not visited the US before, it might be helpful to watch this video to give you an idea of what to expect as you proceed through US customs and passport control upon arrival at the US port of entry.

STEP 3: Review Additional Resources:

We know students will rely on their friends, family, and other social networks to gather information about what it is like to study and live in the US. We encourage you to use this information to help prepare for your arrival, but we also know a lot of misinformation is shared through personal networks and the “stories” people tell. In addition to your personal contacts, we suggest you take advantage of these official resources in preparing for your studies in the US: