- Q: What happens now that I have submitted my request for pickup?
A: FOCUS volunteers do not work 24/7. If your application is received on a holiday or weekend, there may be a delay in sending an acknowledgement.-
- We check for received pickup requests weekdays (Monday – Friday).
- If a request is received during a holiday period or weekend, we will check on the next weekday (Monday-Friday) following the receipt of the request.
- We will review your request, verify your delivery address and flight information, and send an acknowledgement.
- We will contact you if we have any questions about your request.
- We assign drivers one to two weeks prior to your arrival.
- If there is a driver available on the date and time of your arrival, we will notify you with the driver contact information and directions for how to meet your driver at PDX.
- If there is not driver available, we will let you know as soon as possible.
- Our goal is to have a driver assigned approximately one week prior to your arrival date.
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Q: How do I know that my application has been received?
A: After you press the submit button, the following should happen:
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- You should be taken to this page (the one you are reading now).
- If you entered your email address correctly, you should immediately receive an email that acknowledges your application and contains the data you entered.
- Later, you will receive a personal response from someone on the FOCUS Airport Pickup team.
- If you have concerns about your request, please contact the FOCUS Airport Pickup Team. Include your name and the date you submitted your request.
Q: How much does this service cost?
A: There is no fee for this service. Please do not offer to pay the volunteer. This is our way to welcome you to the United States & Portland State University. No agent or service should charge you a fee for requesting a FOCUS airport pickup.
Q: How do I know who will meet me?
A: When we assign a driver to meet you, you will receive an email with the following:
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- Your name, your flight information, and your destination address.
- The driver’s name and contact information.
- Instructions for how to meet the driver at Portland airport.
- Please have a copy of that information available during your travel.
Q: Who are the FOCUS staff and volunteers?
A: Some FOCUS people have full-time assignments working with FOCUS; others are community people, either working or retired men and women who offer some of their time to welcome you and other internationals during your first hours here in Portland. Many have lived, worked or traveled overseas. They have some idea of what it’s like to be a stranger in a foreign country.
Q: What if I make other arrangements and I no longer need a FOCUS pickup?
A: If you no longer need a FOCUS driver to meet you, inform us immediately of your change of plans.
Q: What if FOCUS is not able to make arrangements to pick me up?
A: Please see for transportation from the Portland airport to the PSU campus. A full range of options is available at the PDX web site: Ground Transportation. NOTE: There is no shuttle bus service from PDX to PSU.
- Trimet’s MAX line: $2.50
- Taxi/Cab rates to PSU range from $35 – $80 [Sept 15, 2023]
- Uber / Lyft rates are usually less.
- When you arrive at PDX baggage claim, visit the information booths near to the escalators. They can look up current rates for Taxi. They may also be able to give you information about using Uber/Lyft.
- The least expensive option is to take Trimet’s MAX Line, although it may be difficult if you have more than two pieces of luggage.
Q: How can I take Trimet’s MAX to PSU?
A: See the Trimet information at PDX’s Ground Transportation page. See also our page at https://goo.gl/YHTMzb for information about boarding the MAX line at Portland Airport.
Q: What about family members who will be coming with me?
A: If you have a family member traveling with you (father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, etc.) enter that information when you make your pickup request.
The state of Oregon has child safety seat laws that apply to children until they are at least 4’9″ (144cm) tall or eight years of age. See “Oregon child safety seat laws” for more information. Most of our FOCUS volunteers do not have the safety seats required to transport children who are not at least 4’9″ (144cm) tall or eight years of age.
Q: What about COVID?
A: COVID-19 update: FOCUS drivers and passenger will follow the current COVID protocol regarding the wearing of masks in the airport and in the vehicle.