Richard (or anyone):
So, a non-resident alien with an existing, current (not converted but actual) FAA licence (with or without an instrument rating) may turn up on vacation in the USA at one or two flight schools where he/she has been known for years, and will have to be finger-printed and photographed.
This will be necessary for a rental check-out and/or a BFR, or even to have an instructor in the right seat to act as the safety pilot/observer whilst the pilot is shooting approaches to keep the 6/6 currency for an IR?
All pilots now carry photo ID, and to most aliens, their passport is it - so wherever or whenever a visiting FAA licence holder wants to fly now in the USA, they will have to go through these new ID checks - mainly because rental checkouts are required by schools and their insurance companies. They will, of course, also be carrying their medical certs. and their pilot's license. Quite a lot of ID....
Presumably, this would only have to be done once at each school, and the pilot concerned may fly while the paperwork is being processed.
Is this how the rule will apply? Not complaining, just wanting to get the facts right. In speaking to AOPA, they were trying to argue that the above scenario was unnecessary, and they were hoping to get it dropped.........