SoCal: Yes I tried the local Embassy, premium rate line diverts to an outsourced call centre in (I think) Germany, staff do not seem to be able to answer "technical" questions, I got varying responses from different personnel.
Flight schools do not appear to know either - the concept of having to get a visa for 5 hours' training naturally seems absurd.
So I thought I would try that fount of opinions (if not invariably information) - Pprune!
If I can't get a fix on this I will have to go to Canada .......
Cheers