SAS, as much as i cannot condone people who overstay their visa or visa waiver or even enter the country illegally, it does not necessarilly require a visa to train in aviation in the USA..
If one is eligible for an ESTA entry into the US or the old visa waiver system, then as long as you are not attending a full time course of study and the study is secondary to your visit, ie. vacation, then you are breaking no laws in undergoing training without a Visa.
I got this direct from the US embassy in London.
Yes you still have to register with the TSA for an initial certificate or initial Instrument rating but that's it.
As much as it would make sense for the TSA to talk to the ICE or DofL andI it is not an essential requirement, if flight schools were checked upon more or they checked that their students had permission to train before training commenced on the threat of heavy penalties, surely this would be better?
Chester
