Originally Posted by
MarcK
A Part 61 instructor can train non-US students if he/she has registered as a "Flight Training Provider" with TSA. I don't know any Part 61 independent CFIs who have done that, though.
Just to clarify, the TSA is not a visa issuing authority. Just because the TSA says that a student is cleared to train, does not mean that the student is legal to train in the eyes of USCIS. I have seen many cases where the TSA have approved foreigners on the visa waiver program to start training and I had to explain to flight school management that this was not legal. Now, if someone has a green card or another status visa that allows them to flight train, they can train at a part 61 school with TSA approval.