Yeah112 And Gomrath what do you make of the advice on this website:
Visitor Visas - Business and Pleasure
It says provided the course does not lead to credit for a degree and is recreational and no more than 18 hours a week a visit/business visa is ok
"if the purpose of your planned travel is recreational in nature, including tourism, vacation (holiday), amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, and participation by amateurs, who will receive no remuneration, in musical, sports and similar events or contests, then a visitor visa (B-2) would be the appropriate type of visa for your travel. If you are going to the U.S. primarily for tourism, but want to take a short course of study which is recreational (and not for credit towards a degree), and*the course is less than 18 hours per week, this is permitted on a visitor visa."
Of course for initial certificate issue (including conversion from 61.75 to standalone certificate, IR or MEL) would require TSA approval (and the school to be TSA registered)....and Part 61 only schools are entitled to register as Provider Admin
The gotcha may be that the TSA will only advise training can commence after it is satisfied that you have a suitable visa...And they, not the INS may be of the opinion that a visitor visa is not acceptable?