Beware of Unscrupulous US Visa Advice
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Official AOPA US reaction -Visa Waiver is OK -
Below is the reaction of AOPA (US) of which you of course 
are also a member.
Final; no visa needed, except if you plan to stay longer then 90 days.
No need to train at a school that arranges a visa for you, if your country is a member of the visa waiver program.
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J,
Thanks for the email. Below is the link to our Guide on the Alien Flight Training rule. If you are training for an MEL
you will have to register, get finger printed and pay the fee.
On the VISA requirements, the INS as you probably know does have a list of countries where the VISA is waived. If
you are from one of these countries, then no visa is required and simply state this to the TSA when registering.
Regards,
Larry B.
Aviation Services Department
http://www.aopa.org/tsa_rule/
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are also a member.Final; no visa needed, except if you plan to stay longer then 90 days.
No need to train at a school that arranges a visa for you, if your country is a member of the visa waiver program.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J,
Thanks for the email. Below is the link to our Guide on the Alien Flight Training rule. If you are training for an MEL
you will have to register, get finger printed and pay the fee.
On the VISA requirements, the INS as you probably know does have a list of countries where the VISA is waived. If
you are from one of these countries, then no visa is required and simply state this to the TSA when registering.
Regards,
Larry B.
Aviation Services Department
http://www.aopa.org/tsa_rule/
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SR20Flydoc,
Yes, try that approach when you arrive in the USA. Tell them AOPA says you don't need a visa for flight training. Also tell the TSA you don't need a visa for flight training.
Please don't say you are coming to my school.
Chopperpilot 47
Yes, try that approach when you arrive in the USA. Tell them AOPA says you don't need a visa for flight training. Also tell the TSA you don't need a visa for flight training.
Please don't say you are coming to my school.
Chopperpilot 47
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So I guess that someone living and working in the USA on an H visa is not allowed to complete flight training of any sort......
Or maybe they are?
One rule cannot possibly fit all......
Or maybe they are?
One rule cannot possibly fit all......
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Just to repeat what I posted on the other thread:
I went back to AOPA on the basic of the response from Larry B and this is what they now say:
After further review of your correspondence with Larry Barnes from our Aviation Services Department, I would like to provide some clarification. Possessing a visa is not required to register with TSA for flight training, but it may or may not be required to come to the U.S. for flight training. Step number 4 of 9 in the TSA online registration provides clarification on this:
http://www.flightsafety.com/tsa/tsa...files/frame.htm
Notice it states that you need to enter your visa information, if you possess one.
We know that the TSA rule may be very redundant to the requirements for obtaining a visa - but the government agencies want to have their own databases to compare with each other. Of course, this doesn't lessen the burden on your part.
Overall, we are not the authorities on obtaining visas, and don't have the resources to answer some of your questions. You may need to contact the visa agency for more clarification.
Best Regards,
Paul Deres, CFI, A&P
Aviation Technical Specialist
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Note the line that says:
Overall, we are not the authorities on obtaining visas.........
best to check it out with the embassy.
I went back to AOPA on the basic of the response from Larry B and this is what they now say:
After further review of your correspondence with Larry Barnes from our Aviation Services Department, I would like to provide some clarification. Possessing a visa is not required to register with TSA for flight training, but it may or may not be required to come to the U.S. for flight training. Step number 4 of 9 in the TSA online registration provides clarification on this:
http://www.flightsafety.com/tsa/tsa...files/frame.htm
Notice it states that you need to enter your visa information, if you possess one.
We know that the TSA rule may be very redundant to the requirements for obtaining a visa - but the government agencies want to have their own databases to compare with each other. Of course, this doesn't lessen the burden on your part.
Overall, we are not the authorities on obtaining visas, and don't have the resources to answer some of your questions. You may need to contact the visa agency for more clarification.
Best Regards,
Paul Deres, CFI, A&P
Aviation Technical Specialist
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Note the line that says:
Overall, we are not the authorities on obtaining visas.........
best to check it out with the embassy.
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@Chopperpilot 47
Yes, I did go to the US on a VISA waiver for flighttraining, without probems, and without lying to the immigration officer, and added a rating, before I even knew PPRUNE and the advertisements.
I just want to make sure I do / did everything by the book.
No I don't want to be forced to go for my multi only to a school that issues I20's. (like Naples)
I fly for fun. And flight training in the US [I]is[/] a holliday to me.
So, still no clear answer yet, but it still seems a waiver is allright.
SR20Flydoc,
Yes, try that approach when you arrive in the USA. Tell them AOPA says you don't need a visa for flight training. Also tell the TSA you don't need a visa for flight training.
Please don't say you are coming to my school.
Chopperpilot 47
Yes, try that approach when you arrive in the USA. Tell them AOPA says you don't need a visa for flight training. Also tell the TSA you don't need a visa for flight training.
Please don't say you are coming to my school.
Chopperpilot 47
I just want to make sure I do / did everything by the book.
No I don't want to be forced to go for my multi only to a school that issues I20's. (like Naples)
I fly for fun. And flight training in the US [I]is[/] a holliday to me.
So, still no clear answer yet, but it still seems a waiver is allright.
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So I guess that someone living and working in the USA on an H visa is not allowed to complete flight training of any sort......
That's a very good point! More evidence to show how ridiculous the whole situation has become.
That's a very good point! More evidence to show how ridiculous the whole situation has become.
