I-20 Visa
any one help
Bit of a grey area, you will need TSA clearence to do the type rating. For this you will be photographed and fingerprinted, then there is a two week delay. It MAY be possible to do the fingerprinting in advance, from memory you can do it in the UK, Brazil and somewhere in the Middle East, worth checking as my info is two years old.
Australians can enter the USA under the visa waiver program for tourism or business. Supposedly a type rating comes under business and flight training as in doing a CPL requires a visa. However if on arrival you state you are there for flight training and do not have the appropriate visa you may end up doing a 180 backtrack.
You must find out the LATEST rules, make sure you comply and have your story straight as the US immigration are not know for being kind and understanding
Australians can enter the USA under the visa waiver program for tourism or business. Supposedly a type rating comes under business and flight training as in doing a CPL requires a visa. However if on arrival you state you are there for flight training and do not have the appropriate visa you may end up doing a 180 backtrack.
You must find out the LATEST rules, make sure you comply and have your story straight as the US immigration are not know for being kind and understanding
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Type rating requirements
For type rating you need:
1.) I-20 Visa --- The TR school in the U.S. will send you a proof of enrolment after paying the required deposit with the I-20 form and then you fill it up and take this to the U.S. embassy for issuance of. Go to the US embassy website and look for I-20 and prepare to fork out money for the instructions. Also, you need to pay at the post office for the visa. ( $170??? or something )
2.) TSA Approval. --- You need to go www.flightschoolcandidates.gov for instructions. Credit card payment is required ($130). Transport Security Administration ( a division of Homeland Security ) will confirm with the school that you have indeed enrolled then will do background checks on you. Make sure you select Category B for foreign pilots and indicate the type of training you require. A320/A330/B737, etc. and indicate the course ID given by the school.
3.) FAA foreign license verification.
The school will provide you with the application form with details where to fax your license and medical. You will need to indicate the type of training you require. e.g. A320/330/340, B737-XX. and the U.S. location of your training and the nearest ACB DO where you will pick up another certification issued by the FAA when you get there. Fax this form and a copy of your license and medical to the Airmen Certification Board in Kentucky. This will take around two weeks for the FAA to comeback to you verifying your license with CASA. Ring th ACB in KY to verify they have your form otherwise you will face delay.
This takes around 2 months to complete so, giddy up....
Just a tip. If you are doing the TR in Miami, don't go on these weekend tours organized by the schools. Stay in your hotel and study. If you are doing the TR in the heavies, believe me you need a lot of time to study as people fail in their type rating. It's like drinking from a fire hose.
Also, you might as well do the ATPL exam (If you have more than 1500 hrs) to kill 2 birds with one stone since the checkride for the aircraft TR can be used as a checkride for the ATP License.
Make sure you use a Level D sim.... otherwise CASA will not stamp it in your Aussie license.
Good luck mate.
1.) I-20 Visa --- The TR school in the U.S. will send you a proof of enrolment after paying the required deposit with the I-20 form and then you fill it up and take this to the U.S. embassy for issuance of. Go to the US embassy website and look for I-20 and prepare to fork out money for the instructions. Also, you need to pay at the post office for the visa. ( $170??? or something )
2.) TSA Approval. --- You need to go www.flightschoolcandidates.gov for instructions. Credit card payment is required ($130). Transport Security Administration ( a division of Homeland Security ) will confirm with the school that you have indeed enrolled then will do background checks on you. Make sure you select Category B for foreign pilots and indicate the type of training you require. A320/A330/B737, etc. and indicate the course ID given by the school.
3.) FAA foreign license verification.
The school will provide you with the application form with details where to fax your license and medical. You will need to indicate the type of training you require. e.g. A320/330/340, B737-XX. and the U.S. location of your training and the nearest ACB DO where you will pick up another certification issued by the FAA when you get there. Fax this form and a copy of your license and medical to the Airmen Certification Board in Kentucky. This will take around two weeks for the FAA to comeback to you verifying your license with CASA. Ring th ACB in KY to verify they have your form otherwise you will face delay.
This takes around 2 months to complete so, giddy up....
Just a tip. If you are doing the TR in Miami, don't go on these weekend tours organized by the schools. Stay in your hotel and study. If you are doing the TR in the heavies, believe me you need a lot of time to study as people fail in their type rating. It's like drinking from a fire hose.
Also, you might as well do the ATPL exam (If you have more than 1500 hrs) to kill 2 birds with one stone since the checkride for the aircraft TR can be used as a checkride for the ATP License.
Make sure you use a Level D sim.... otherwise CASA will not stamp it in your Aussie license.
Good luck mate.
Last edited by DeltaSix; 6th Oct 2007 at 03:56.
DeltaSix, thanks for the informative post. I will be converting my Blender (helicopter) licence to FAA in about 12 months when I get a spare few weeks away from work.
I had been trying to make heads or tails of what visa's/req's you needed, but your post just about sums it up.
Cheers.
I had been trying to make heads or tails of what visa's/req's you needed, but your post just about sums it up.
Cheers.
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type rating's / training in the US
g'day farrari
i did the FAA IR and CPL about 6 months ago. i had to get approval from the AFSP (alien flight student program) to conduct my training) this took about a month and about $350 AUD aswell as (previously mentioned) fingerprinting aswell as filling in a few details online by yourself and the training organisation in the USA. Whatever you do don't go over there under the Visa Waiver Program, they do not allow you to change your status within the USA (i know from experience on this one, seeing as my wife is american and i tried it the first time around) so go the B1/B2 visa it will cost you $130 oz and you'll be sweet. Other alternative is to get the M1 technical/vocational student visa which still costs $250 from memory.
the US is a brilliant place to fly, i went over with a little over a thousand hours and found it a walk in the park, you'll love it
perhaps our ATC could learn a thing or two from them, you'll see what i mean when you get there 
enjoy
V
i did the FAA IR and CPL about 6 months ago. i had to get approval from the AFSP (alien flight student program) to conduct my training) this took about a month and about $350 AUD aswell as (previously mentioned) fingerprinting aswell as filling in a few details online by yourself and the training organisation in the USA. Whatever you do don't go over there under the Visa Waiver Program, they do not allow you to change your status within the USA (i know from experience on this one, seeing as my wife is american and i tried it the first time around) so go the B1/B2 visa it will cost you $130 oz and you'll be sweet. Other alternative is to get the M1 technical/vocational student visa which still costs $250 from memory.
the US is a brilliant place to fly, i went over with a little over a thousand hours and found it a walk in the park, you'll love it
perhaps our ATC could learn a thing or two from them, you'll see what i mean when you get there enjoy
V
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by the way farrari:
the I-20 is not a visa..........
it is part of the paperwork you need to submit to get the visa.
all the hard work is done if you have the I-20 in your possesion though.
fill in the forms (DS-156 and DS-157) and make an appointment at an embassy and you'll be golden.
V
the I-20 is not a visa..........
it is part of the paperwork you need to submit to get the visa.
all the hard work is done if you have the I-20 in your possesion though.
fill in the forms (DS-156 and DS-157) and make an appointment at an embassy and you'll be golden.
V
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g'day farrari,
sorry if i confused you mate, but as i understand it you do need the M1 visa for your type rating, as i needed it for IR and CPL over there which i dont see why the immigration department would look at either case any differantly. The reason why i bought the B1/B2 visa up is because you can change the status whilst inside the USA. The first time i went to the US i went on the visa waiver program and when i discovered that it was cheaper to do my IR over there on better equipment and convert it back when i got back to oz on a B58 baron i found out i couldn't change status without leaving the country so i had to go to Vancouver in Canada to APPLY for the visa (lucky i got it and lucky i was in Seattle, only 2 hours drive away). If you're unsure about training over there you can enter the country under the B1/B2 visa and change your status inside the USA to the M1 visa, you can't change your status on the visa waiver program.
PM me if you have any issues mate
V
sorry if i confused you mate, but as i understand it you do need the M1 visa for your type rating, as i needed it for IR and CPL over there which i dont see why the immigration department would look at either case any differantly. The reason why i bought the B1/B2 visa up is because you can change the status whilst inside the USA. The first time i went to the US i went on the visa waiver program and when i discovered that it was cheaper to do my IR over there on better equipment and convert it back when i got back to oz on a B58 baron i found out i couldn't change status without leaving the country so i had to go to Vancouver in Canada to APPLY for the visa (lucky i got it and lucky i was in Seattle, only 2 hours drive away). If you're unsure about training over there you can enter the country under the B1/B2 visa and change your status inside the USA to the M1 visa, you can't change your status on the visa waiver program.
PM me if you have any issues mate
V
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Some clarifications
Just to clarify things:
* M-1 visa is the result of the I-20
* The Alien Flight Student Program is what you will get in to when you go to the website (www.flightschoolcandidates.gov)
* The I-20 can be filled up using the US embassy website but you will need the schools' enrollment confirmation ( sent via FedEx ) to be taken to the embassy with the filled up form. So, hold on filling this up till you get the enrollment confirmation. It's only a 30 minute exercise anyway.
* The TSA clearance is done using the flightschoolcandidates website.
* For the foreign license verification - try and go to the FAA website and download the form to hurry things up a bit.
Confirm they have this by ringing them on the following day. The number for the ACB in KY is 0011 1 405 954-3261
* The school will usually send you a CD with system notes / FCOM ( Flight Crew Operating Manual ) once deposit has been received.
Just a word of warning: AVOID CHANGING STATUS OR TRAINING DETAILS when you get there. Trust me when I say you will be having problems with your papers. The TSA clearance is specific. Get it right the first time and that's before you leave Australia. Otherwise, you are looking at another 14 hour flight.
Farrari, I got your PM. I am currently based overseas and I'm afraid I won't be back in Sydney for a few more months. Don't know what B1/B2 visa is but the TRTO in the U.S. never mentioned that I needed any other visa except the M1. The school will fill you in on this.
Goodluck to everyone
* M-1 visa is the result of the I-20
* The Alien Flight Student Program is what you will get in to when you go to the website (www.flightschoolcandidates.gov)
* The I-20 can be filled up using the US embassy website but you will need the schools' enrollment confirmation ( sent via FedEx ) to be taken to the embassy with the filled up form. So, hold on filling this up till you get the enrollment confirmation. It's only a 30 minute exercise anyway.
* The TSA clearance is done using the flightschoolcandidates website.
* For the foreign license verification - try and go to the FAA website and download the form to hurry things up a bit.
Confirm they have this by ringing them on the following day. The number for the ACB in KY is 0011 1 405 954-3261
* The school will usually send you a CD with system notes / FCOM ( Flight Crew Operating Manual ) once deposit has been received.
Just a word of warning: AVOID CHANGING STATUS OR TRAINING DETAILS when you get there. Trust me when I say you will be having problems with your papers. The TSA clearance is specific. Get it right the first time and that's before you leave Australia. Otherwise, you are looking at another 14 hour flight.
Farrari, I got your PM. I am currently based overseas and I'm afraid I won't be back in Sydney for a few more months. Don't know what B1/B2 visa is but the TRTO in the U.S. never mentioned that I needed any other visa except the M1. The school will fill you in on this.
Goodluck to everyone
Last edited by DeltaSix; 6th Oct 2007 at 14:39.
Thread Starter
Doing 777 at Alteon Miami, they say because I have a B1/B2 visa this allows me to do type rating, however when you look at what other schools say, like Sim Centre, they say need MI, does my B1/B2 override this?
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G'day,
I am at Alteon Miami right now, in the middle of my A320 TR - As a kiwi who holds CASA licences, I suspect you will be in the same boat as me.
You will need the M1 Visa - that's for sure. The regulations say that if your main visit to the states is for "flight training", then you need the visa.
You will need TSA clearance, get started on that ASAP - fingerprints can be done when you get here (in the alteon building) and done on the day, so don't worry about that, but you should get the process started.
You also need to complete the "verification of authenticity of foreign licence, rating & medical form". As an Australian licence holder, you are required to send a form to CASA BEFORE sending away this form. All details are on the FAA website.
I got everything done in 6 weeks (mainly because I had to convert to a CASA licence first cos FAA TR's arent recognised on my NZ licence!).
Good luck with your training
I am at Alteon Miami right now, in the middle of my A320 TR - As a kiwi who holds CASA licences, I suspect you will be in the same boat as me.
You will need the M1 Visa - that's for sure. The regulations say that if your main visit to the states is for "flight training", then you need the visa.
You will need TSA clearance, get started on that ASAP - fingerprints can be done when you get here (in the alteon building) and done on the day, so don't worry about that, but you should get the process started.
You also need to complete the "verification of authenticity of foreign licence, rating & medical form". As an Australian licence holder, you are required to send a form to CASA BEFORE sending away this form. All details are on the FAA website.
I got everything done in 6 weeks (mainly because I had to convert to a CASA licence first cos FAA TR's arent recognised on my NZ licence!).
Good luck with your training
Thread Starter
JSFI
What are you saying here, are you saying that you have to prove that your Australian licence and medical are authentic, to get a US pilot licence?
As I already have an FAA licence, issued in 1990, based on my Australian licence, I would assume that I don't have to do this. That aside, for an Australian who has a CASA licence and just wants the type rating, does he still have to get an FAA licence to do the type rating?
Did Alteon tell you about this form because they have not told me about this? They also told me that because I have a B1/B2 visa, I do not need an
M1 visa. I am talking with Maria at Alteon.
It is getting more confusing by the day.
Can you help?
What are you saying here, are you saying that you have to prove that your Australian licence and medical are authentic, to get a US pilot licence?
As I already have an FAA licence, issued in 1990, based on my Australian licence, I would assume that I don't have to do this. That aside, for an Australian who has a CASA licence and just wants the type rating, does he still have to get an FAA licence to do the type rating?
Did Alteon tell you about this form because they have not told me about this? They also told me that because I have a B1/B2 visa, I do not need an
M1 visa. I am talking with Maria at Alteon.
It is getting more confusing by the day.
Can you help?
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That's exactly what I'm saying.
If you are doing the rating on your CASA license, you will have to fill out that form to pick up your qualification from the FSDO office. If you want it on your FAA license, dont worry about it.
If you are gonna fill out that form, dont worry too much - I sent it away and everything was done in less than 1 week.
I am with Simcenter - which occupies the Alteon building and is a totally separate training organisation, you would have to contact the Alteon office directly regarding it.
I am not 100% sure about whether or not a B visa is ok. On everything I have read it says that for flight training, you need a M. Something about being a 'student' I think....having said this....I know 2 people in the US right now doing jet training (kiwis) who havent bothered even getting one, and no1 has held them up about it (yet). If Alteon told you a B visa is ok, i would go with that, they deal with overseas students every day.
If you are doing the rating on your CASA license, you will have to fill out that form to pick up your qualification from the FSDO office. If you want it on your FAA license, dont worry about it.
If you are gonna fill out that form, dont worry too much - I sent it away and everything was done in less than 1 week.
I am with Simcenter - which occupies the Alteon building and is a totally separate training organisation, you would have to contact the Alteon office directly regarding it.
I am not 100% sure about whether or not a B visa is ok. On everything I have read it says that for flight training, you need a M. Something about being a 'student' I think....having said this....I know 2 people in the US right now doing jet training (kiwis) who havent bothered even getting one, and no1 has held them up about it (yet). If Alteon told you a B visa is ok, i would go with that, they deal with overseas students every day.