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M1 Visa or no Visa and SEVIS approved schools in the USA

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M1 Visa or no Visa and SEVIS approved schools in the USA

Old 2nd Feb 2012, 08:38
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Thanks for all your advice.
I'm interested in getting a better and safer private pilot. That's why I'm thinking to go for the IR. I had some instrument (JAA) dual time and regularly fly an N-registered aircraft here in Italy.
As I can't take 1 month off from work for the IR training I need a "fast-track" syllabus to be done in 10-14 days. The knowledge test will be done in the UK before going to the US.
I'm not fixed on a part 61 school, and I'm not trying to "trick" the system, going on the visa waiver program, but nevertheless I'm looking for the official informations and it seems not easy to find it in writing, just opinions.
I'll be very thankfull to everybody who could help me.
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Old 25th Feb 2012, 16:52
  #102 (permalink)  
 
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A programme to follow for the OP would be :

1. Write to the US Consular Officers in Milan, San Marino, Rome, Naples or Florence

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ALL VISA SECTIONS IN ITALY

EMBASSY ROME - Visa Section

The Rome visa section serves the residents of the Rome visa district, which includes the Regions of: Lazio, Abruzzo, Sardegna, Umbria and Marche.

Mailing address: Via Vittorio Veneto 121 - 00187 ROMA
E-mail address for Non Immigrant Visa Services: [email protected]

CONSULATE GENERAL MILAN - Visa Section

The Milan visa section serves the residents of the Milan visa district, which includes the Regions of: Valle D'Aosta, Piemonte, Lombardia, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria and Emilia Romagna (Provinces of Piacenza and Parma only).

Mailing address: Via Principe Amedeo, 2/10 - 20121 MILANO
E-mail address for Non Immigrant Visa Services: [email protected]

CONSULATE GENERAL FLORENCE - Visa Section

The Florence visa section serves the residents of the Florence visa district, which includes the Regions of: Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna (all except the Provinces of Piacenza and Parma) as well as the Republic of San Marino.

Mailing address: Lungarno Vespucci, 38 - 50123 FIRENZE
E-mail address for Non Immigrant Visa Services: [email protected]

CONSULATE GENERAL NAPLES - Visa Section

The Naples Non Immigrant visa section serves the residents of the Naples visa district, which includes the Regions of: Campania, Molise, Basilicata, Puglia, Calabria, and Sicilia

The Naples Immigrant visa section provides Immigrant Visa services Italy-wide.

Mailing address: Piazza della Repubblica - 80122 NAPOLI
E-mail address for Non Immigrant Visa Services: [email protected]
E-mail address for Immigrant Visa Services: [email protected]
describing the flight training (finishing up) you wish to do and getting a confirmation whether a B1/B2 visa is sufficient.

You will, after some delay, get the necessary response (such as the one below - which was for finishing up an FAA PPL in Florida):

Subject: RE: VISA required for Private Pilot Licence training in the US in January
Date: [redacted]
From: [redacted]
To: [redacted]


Yes you may apply for a B visa. Please contact our call center tel [redacted] to obtain an appointment date.
Best regards

Visa section
2. Make an appointment with the consulate near you. They nowadays charge for the call (about €15) to make the appointment.

3. For a 10-14 day finishing up programme as you are going for, it makes sense to do sufficient training and get the necessary aeronautical experience beforehand (this can be done by a JAA instructor). If you decide to hire an FAA instructor, you need to get authorised through the TSA.

4. Contact the part 61 flight instruction operator you wish to complete your training with. Tell them you are in the process of obtaining the necessary B1/B2 visa but want to clear the TSA procedure with them. Ask for the training course name and number to be filled out on the TSA website www.flightschoolcandidates.gov

5. Arrange flights / hotel / rental car etc... when you have both your visa and the TSA approval.
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Old 27th Feb 2012, 11:09
  #103 (permalink)  
 
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2 hrs SIM

dear gents,

after reading all 8 pages of this very helpfull thread, i have not found a final answer applying to my case:

I intend to go to CAE to dry-lease a simulator for 2 hrs for a JAA training event.
CAT 4 - more than 12500lbs - so the training provider has to apply for TSA clearence for me - and I have to go through the TSA process - correct? (did it 2009 for the initial)

VISA: can I enter the US on VWP or on my B1/B2 visum? (simulator only - 2 hrs)

what if: my company intends to send me as an JAA TRE to sit on the controls of the sim/or next to the CAE sim operator to check other pilots?
TSA/VISA etc..

i have talked to different people, giving me different answers - I am aware that collegues of mine had some trouble doing the same before..


(to make it even more complicated: i have a FAA ATP, but do not intend to make a recurrent on this ticket by now)

thx for your help, gents
rgds
welle
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Old 1st Mar 2012, 15:19
  #104 (permalink)  
 
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Welle,

There is strictly no non-academic vocational student visa available for you. This is a shortcoming in US law. On the previous page of this thread you'll see where I have highlighted this problem which affects 'courses of study' having fewer hours than the minima required.

A B-visa, subject both to a clarified interpretation of the INA and to an amendment in US law summarised in the DOJ memorandum (linked by Gomrath), is not available to aliens entering the US to undertake a 'course of study.' The VWP is similarly inappropriate.

A pragmatic view must at some point be taken in spite of the minimum threshold on hours of studying per week required in part satisfaction of the M visa rules. In your position I would apply for an M visa anyway. The only sensible reason I can see for there being a minimum number of hours per week is to prevent aliens entering the US for prolonged periods, notionally studying, but in reality engaging in labour.

Best of luck.
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Old 19th Apr 2012, 02:12
  #105 (permalink)  
 
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Schools approved for F-1 visa.

Hello everybody!
I apologize if I apply with a bit wrong thread, but do me a favor please …I’m going to take zero-hero course (correct?) i.e. to get PPL, CPL, ME, IR and gain 1500 TT as fast as possible . But I’m facing some difficulties, I cant find schools which are approved for F-1 visa (to gain 1000-1500 hrs). There should be about eight schools in States, I found one only, Aviator Flight Training Academy (Fort Pierce) which is not 100% satisfy me.
All information about F-1 visa approved pilot schools will be appreciated .
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Old 19th Apr 2012, 20:48
  #106 (permalink)  
 
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Try Flight Safety Academy. Aerosim Academy. University of North Dakota. Aviator.edu
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Old 20th Apr 2012, 22:47
  #107 (permalink)  
 
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Thanks for replay. Do you know what people do say about these schools? Especially wondering about aviator.edu . Can't find students opinions.
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Old 23rd Apr 2012, 12:38
  #108 (permalink)  
 
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Yet another question about non-sevis schools..

Hi guys, another spin on the non-sevis schools theme.. could you get an M1 visa through an approved school, complete the course then do additional training somewhere else now that you're in the country on a visa? - assuming you get TSA clearance for that course...
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Old 26th Apr 2012, 19:24
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Proudprivate :
My personal experience with short accelerated programs is that US immigration requires either an M1 or a B1 or a B2 VISA.
A B1/B2 is NOT acceptable and actually explicitly prohibited :

ECFR § 214.2 (7) Enrollment in a course of study prohibited. An alien who is admitted as, or changes status to, a B–1 or B–2 nonimmigrant on or after April 12, 2002, or who files a request to extend the period of authorized stay in B–1 or B–2 nonimmigrant status on or after such date, violates the conditions of his or her B–1 or B–2 status if the alien enrolls in a course of study.
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Old 28th Apr 2012, 15:13
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Originally Posted by rudestuff
could you get an M1 visa through an approved school, complete the course then do additional training somewhere else now that you're in the country on a visa?
No you cannot. You are in the US on a visa sponsored by the Flight School. Their name is on the visa. Leave that School and you are out of status. You need to transfer your visa BEFORE you give up that School and you need a new TSA submission request fgor the new School (if the course requires TSA approval). The new School also needs to be a SEVIS approved School in order to receive the changed visa,
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Old 30th Apr 2012, 20:04
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F-1 visa and afterwards...

Aviator Flight Training College offer F1 visas for 24 months, the actual training is for 6 months and rest of time you can build up your multi engine hours as flight instructor with them.

www.aviator.edu

does anyone have a knowledge about this college and what are the prospects in regards to the visa extention as work permit and job if anyone wants to extend the visa for further employment.

i am a foreign national in the UK, currently hold JAA PPL, recently had my class 1 medical at gatwick and want to be a career pilot, and willing to relocate anywhere in the world for training.
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Old 30th Apr 2012, 21:03
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Originally Posted by Gomrath
No you cannot. You are in the US on a visa sponsored by the Flight School. Their name is on the visa. Leave that School and you are out of status. You need to transfer your visa BEFORE you give up that School and you need a new TSA submission request fgor the new School (if the course requires TSA approval). The new School also needs to be a SEVIS approved School in order to receive the changed visa
,
@ Gomrath - think you may be correct with this in majority but not all scenarios.

Consider this:
Step 1: Do your private with M1 & TSA from SEVIS approved school.
Step 2: Rent an aircraft following completion of your private to fly around:
I do not believe that has to be at the same school?

You are not undertaking any kind of studying.

Obviously if you are doing an IR this could not be done at another school without visa change & TSA
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Old 3rd May 2012, 15:16
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Name change in Sevis Receipt

Hi All,

I have recently paid my Sevis Fee and I have entered my Last name incorrectly
I have sent the mail to the team requesting to change my Last Name
Is there any chance that this could be changed ?
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Old 6th May 2012, 14:58
  #114 (permalink)  
 
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BigGrecian

A B1/B2 is NOT acceptable and actually explicitly prohibited :
If you're throwing CFR Title 8 Part 214 at the members of this forum, it would be helpful if you had read the entire bit, not just the ones that suit you.

You might want to read how the CFR defines "Course of Study".
certified by a designated school official to consist of at least eighteen clock hours of attendance a week if the dominant part of the course of study consists of classroom instruction, or at least twenty-two clock hours a week if the dominant part of the course of study consists of shop or laboratory work;
Now a lot of posters on this forum have a specific conflict of interest in that they are either UK flight instructors that hate to see people take flight lessons in the US; or US flight instructors at a SEVIS school that face competition from non-SEVIS schools for the short partial courses or finish up programs I was talking about.

In addition, the rules and regulations that apply and could apply are many, which makes it very easy to confuse matters, thinking that you are in the clear when you are not or thinking that you need to jump additional hoops when you don't.

So, my advice to all of you is still to check with your consular officer at your nearby US consulate or embassy, explain the situation and ask whether a B1/B2 visa is sufficient for the purpose. I have done so, and got a written confirmation before I was interviewed.

The reason you need a written confirmation is precisely because not every immigration officer is aware of every rule. As a matter of fact, the last time I went there for a finish up and checkride, the immigration officer claimed that I didn't need the B1/B2, and that a visa waiver / esta would have sufficed. That is in contradiction with information you find on the US State Department website, where they say that any short course enrollment requires at least a B2.

Bottom line : you don't want to complicate your life if you don't have to, but you also want to cover your bases if you need to.

I must say I'm a bit fed up with all this stupid scaremongering. We all should strive to help out fellow pilots and fellow students whatever stage in their career or whatever their level of competence.
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Old 6th May 2012, 23:39
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Originally Posted by Another
@ Gomrath - think you may be correct with this in majority but not all scenarios.

Consider this:
Step 1: Do your private with M1 & TSA from SEVIS approved school.
Step 2: Rent an aircraft following completion of your private to fly around:
I do not believe that has to be at the same school?
Re read what rudestuff wrote.. He refers to undertaking 'additional training' - he make no mention of "flying around".
So your scenario does not come into play based on the question asked.

The reference that BigGrecian is making regarding B1/B2 visas is here from a document from the Department of Justice.
www.eandvh.com/engine/pubs/getdoc.aspx?id=40&dl=1
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Old 8th May 2012, 16:04
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True, not disputing that. think its just a matter of semantics.

rudestuff did not specify what kind of training he was referring to.
obviously IFR/ME etc. are not permitted. (and thats what he probably meant,yes)

but renting a plane at another school to do practice approaches after getting an IR would feel like is additional training to me... and should be fine and legal under visa requirements.
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Old 13th May 2012, 11:55
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To clarify, my example would be someone who wanted to do a PPL and an IR.

A Sevis registered school is likely to be more expensive than one which is not, so I was wondering if you could use them to get the M1 visa and do the PPL training - then once you've finished and have 30 days to leave the country, get the IR done at a cheaper school (The ones in the Midwest seem to be half the price of the Florida ones) Sounds like it's a no then!

Last edited by rudestuff; 13th May 2012 at 11:56. Reason: spelling
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Old 15th May 2012, 13:10
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A Sevis registered school is likely to be more expensive than one which is not
Rubbish, there is absolutely no evidence to substantiate that claim.
In order for a school to be SEVIS approved it needs to be FAA Part 141 approved. This has to do with more stringent record keeping requirements.

Besides, under Part 141 you can do the IR right after the PPL, with Part 61 you need 50 hrs of PIC Cross country time before you can take your IFR checkride.
So per definition, a Part 141 PPL+ IR is 50 hrs. cheaper then a Part 61 PPL+ IR.
I'll leave it to you to add it up....


M1 visa and do the PPL training - then once you've finished and have 30 days to leave the country, get the IR done at a cheaper school
The school were you do your PPL is required to notify SEVIS that you training is completed. You are therefore no longer allowed to undertake any training since the training for which the visa was issued has been completed.
What you suggest will get you a visit from TSA and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) followedd by a free trip to the airport for your return home.
Keep in mind that immigration violations will get you on the "No Entry" list for up to 10 years.

Here's the good news:
You may change schools and keep the original visa if you decide to do so WITHIN 6 MONTHS of entering the USA.
You originally choose school A for your training and after 3 months you feel you may be better off by moving to school B.
School A is REQUIRED to transfer you to school B in the SEVIS system.
School B will issue the necessary paperwork, accept you in SEVIS and the training merrily carries on at school B.
Obviosly school B also needs to be SEVIS approved.

Last edited by B2N2; 15th May 2012 at 13:18.
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Old 27th May 2012, 09:56
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Training with no certificate?

Hi all. This thread has been extremely useful to me in searching for answers to my situation, but I'm still a little confused.

I'm an Indian citizen pursuing full-time flight training in India (CPL-ME-IR). We're going to have weather-related time off for two-three months from Jun-Sep (the monsoon season), and there will hardly be any flying that takes places. I was considering visiting a very close friend in the US during that period (two months - Jul to Aug), and undertaking some training while there. The flying bit is not going to be my main purpose of visit but a nice extra if feasible.

I've presently flown 75 hours in India, 36 dual and 29 solo, but don't have a PPL certificate. For that I need to fly a 150nm navigation flight with two full-stop landings. With the prevailing weather conditions here we're not allowed to go beyond 125nm. Considering all that I might need to get trained a little about the US airspace differences and maybe in variations in navigation procedures.

The school I've spoken-to are saying that my Indian hours will count towards an FAA PPL. Since I've already flown more than the minimums for an FAA PPL, I'm assuming I might only need to fly a few checkrides with a CFI at the school, and spend some ground-time for the navigation exercises, apart from actually flying the nav-exes.

Will I require an M1 visa for these? I'm guessing all this will not take me more than 15 hours of flying. I have a valid B1/B2 on my passport, and have visited the US previously in 2010.

I'm going to get the TSA authorisation for sure under the AFSP, but am unsure about the visa requirements. I'm willing to not apply for a PPL if that allows me to get-by on the B2. What I learn is more valuable to me than a certificate. Will Part 61 schools be open to me in case the B2 works?

Last edited by razzy; 27th May 2012 at 10:01.
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Old 28th May 2012, 18:31
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I'm assuming I might only need to fly a few checkrides with a CFI at the school, and spend some ground-time for the navigation exercises, apart from actually flying the nav-exes.
You assume incorrectly.
You will a FAA Medical and you must complete the FAA written exam. The FAA Checkride also consists of ane indepth oral exam which you have to pass before completing the actual flight portion.
The thread provides all the information that you need on what the visa requirements are. If you are still confused - best read it again and read the attachment that I provided in my previous post.
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