custardpsc

Sorry av8tor, you are correct about the scope of the visas, albeit repeating commonly available info that has been done to death on here already, but there are a number of inaccuracies in some of the other things you say

You dont have to go to a part 141 school
Quite a number of flying training tasks require neither a visa nor tsa, nor a green card
A tourist visa IS quite acceptable for some types of training

See b2n2s post for activities acceptable without a visa, he is quite correct about those, some basic research or simply asking an immigration officer will tell you where the truth lies

HJD

Just a quick question, i am currently in the USA on an M1 visa and have just completed my Instrument rating and would like to go on for my commercial but would like to change schools to a smaller school. do i have to notify anyone or receive permission to change school for my commercial license and does it have to be a SEVIS approved school? i have read a lot of contradicting information on this topic online. can anyone clear this up???

custardpsc

none can really clear it up because the rules are inconsistent and unclear, have a look at my post 19th feb this thread and others either side of it for interpretations of your situation. See also TSA thread

You on't say if you have a full or 61.75 FAA private - that matters to give you a full answer. Plenty posted here and on the tsa thread about that

In your position (current, assume FAA full private) you'd need 10-15 hours - you could probably get it done in 7-10 days - doing it before you leave would be feasible. You are technically out of visa status but you also get some leeway to pack up and leave so you could do it that way

Gomrath

As soon as you leave a Flight School who are sponsoring your visa - you are immediately out of status. If you want to change schools you need to get that organized whilst still at the first school. Generally it isn't a problem provided you are in good standing with that first school.


If you go out of status for giving up' at the first flight school - then there is no 'grace' period for leaving the country.
If you are found to be out of status - you will be 'invited' to leave.
Any flight school taking you on knowing you to be out of status really puts them at risk.