Originally Posted by Wanna-be
Isn't it possible to get a Visa on your own via the American emabsy, so you can train at every school, also the schools that can't give a visa?
Visa's are linked to the organisation, i've had L1 and M1 and the application process is tied into the company you are going to. I can't remember much about the process (apart from humorous questions about things like clans on the DS 157 form), but US embassy has a good web site with details. I note HAI has J1 approval so this seems to imply schools have to be approved. Nowadays there's also a TSA vetting process to go through too, something to research. I believe visas are quota'd per 12 month period per country so that's worth checking. Trivia - watch out for poor air conditioning in embassy during summer, and be prepared for an expeditious premium rate 'phone call to book appointment.
The more important question is about career choice. Aviation has heavy up front investment costs, some degree of dropout, a dependence on continuous good medical health, long apprenticeship (hour building), variable employment benefits. The plus side is flying on a sunny day, but you can don't need to be a professional to do that.
The J-1 approach (from my limited understanding) requires full commitment. The aim is to qualify as early as possible so as to use the remaining visa time for any P1-time-increasing employment you can find.