Yes! Customs and border patrol are the immigration officers at the desks when you enter the US. Basically the flight school told me I didnt need a visa and told me to check with my US embassy, who told me I didnt and told me to contact the TSA, who told me I didnt and gave me the number for the Department of Homeland Security (or State), who told me I didnt and gave me the number of the Customs and Border Patrol who also told me I didnt need a visa.
I worked in entry clearance at the British Embassy in Dubai last year. One of the things I learned there is that under certain categories of study or travel, a visa is not required. We would get these folk pleading with us to give them a visa 'just in case' and we couldnt. We were not refusing these folk entry to the UK, the fact was they did not require a visa to go to the UK, and could just travel on their passport alone. Even if they were going to study. A vocational course for example we could not issue a student visa because there was no requirement for one. However, we would advise these students to travel with 6 months bank statements, invitation letter, accomodation confirmation, return ticket...etc to show the immigration officer in the UK on arrival. This was the same deal as with me going to the US for my course.
DB
