Captain Gentil,
You mentioned that there are FTO's approved to issue I20 forms? So you are telling me that those FTO's were approved by INS to issue I-20 forms solely on the basis of their UK FTO approval? Or did they use their FAA Part 141 air agency approval to get the I-20 authorisation?
When your school issue's an I-20 form for JAA PPL, do you just write "flight training", "FAA PPL" or "JAA PPL" on the I-20 form?
I was also reading the website and it does mentions that this restriction is for B1 B2 visa. Most EU citizens enter USA under visa waiver and it is not part of B1 B2!
I understand from your statement that if I were to come to visit Mickey Mouse and whilst I was strolling the streets in Orlando and saw a brochure from a flight school, I legally cannot go and train there? How is INS going to control people who just walk in? Since your school is approved, if a EU citizen walks in and ask for flight instruction (for arguement sake, lets just say one hour only) what would you do?
I personally think it is more complicated then it seems. What if before the student arrive in the USA, the school has their background check done by FBI. Wouldn't that be good enough reason for INS to believe that the potential student is not a potential terrorist? After all the INS wants to stop the terrorists from coming to USA, right?
My apologies for all the typos and other mistakes. Its late and past my bed time. Will continue more later.
Cheerio,
Mayday
PS: And you said time building is ok but you also quoted that "Any flight training that seeks a licence or rating now requires a visa"? Now that's a contradiction in itself. I am assuming when the students arrive for time building they are required to convert their licence to FAA licence (seeking licence!). They also require a check out (seeking training as the FI is logging the time as dual given!) before they can go solo. Also most of the time builders are time building towards their CPL requirements. How is this OK and PPL training is not?