i was in the states the end of last year for 3 weeks flying training and had to get a visa, i was told all for all flying training you have to have a visa but if you are hour building you can use the visa waiver if less than 90 days!

I've been refused entry to the States before, because I didn't bother getting the visa for the flying course, evnethough I wasn't going to stay more than 90 days. And the funny thing is, that the Flight school actually told me that the visa waiwer would be enough!

Mcgoo and Kerrinator,

A Type Rating does not involve flying training, it involves simulators. It's very hard to crash a simulator into a building and actually kill any real people so the rules are less strict than what you went through.

Nimbus 5
To my understanding, a type rating involves TRAINING. And a visa waiver is not supposed to be used for any full time course. I think youre not even allowed to enter the US with the waiver, if the sole purpose of your visit is to do a course (flying or no flying)! And by the way its actually got, nothing to do with the 9/11 incident! ok-

Type ratings can be done on the wavier.

LPC/OPC checks can be done on a wavier in the sim as well.

You fill out a web page.

Get a log in

Fill out everything thats required pay your money.

They send you an email a couple of days later telling you what you need to redo.

You then have to get your finger prints taken before starting training in the sim. This can be done in the UK or by the local plod once you get there.

It is completly different for proffesional pilots sponsered by a company to do a type rating compared to going to do a PPL or MEP.

MJ

The rules are that anything that leads to a certification needs a visa. I would say therefore that getting a licience or a rating falls within the scope of needing a visa. That therefore means that the training towards the rating has to be done at an immigration approved school.
I suspect the advice given came from a non immigration approved school as they tend to not know anything about visas.
If they are an immigration approved provider PM me with their name so as I can apply to do something with them.:hmm:

keep your smart arse comments to yourself, if you look into the regulations you will see the visa requirements are nothing to do with the ability to destroy buildings or kill people!

You are slightly wrong, take the time to educate yourself and read the preamble on changes to training under a visa waiver that happened a couple of years ago, you will see they are a direct result of 9/11 ! You can search on pprune and find the info you need.

As I understood it any time of full time training, I think the number is > 18hr per week for anything, let it be a english course, or a flying course. Hence you can hour build in the USA, but little else without a student visa.

The large type rating school I went to put all students on a visa for their training when they were from overseas.

Speedbird744

Listen to your training provider. Lots of crew go for sim work from all over europe on a regular baisis. There is some electronic paper work to do but its no great hassel. The immigration folk in the major hubs know all about it as well. When you go through just show them the conformation email with your registration number on it and confirmed training period and it is all fine.

MJ

J-1 visa eligibility with previous training?
 

I heard different stories about the matter.

Some say you can't get a J-1 with more a PPL and 50hrs TOTAL TIME, while others say you can't get it with more than 50hrs experience AFTER gaining your PPL.

What is the actual requirement? Any first-hand experiences?

Realistically it appears to be more down to how much money you are going to spend at the J1 provider school before you want to work.

Ive heard of places taken jaa fATPL's and giving them a J1 if they do a full FAA course.

:ok:

razzele

Visa for USA
 

Apologies in advance for yet another question:

After the ATPL theory I plan on going to Florida to hour build and afterwards continue training for the CPL and ME in the USA (most probably EFT). The dilemma I have is that I don't think the M1 visa required for flight training (which as far as I understand it the flight school acts as a guarantor for) will not cover me for hour building.

I have had suggestions to enter the country on a tourist visa to build hours and subsequently change it to a M1, so any suggestions you may have will be helpful. Once again, thanks!

you are not required to have a visa for hour building, this can be done under the visa waiver scheme but you will require a visa for flight training

You would be able to enter the country on a visa waiver for the hour building but if you want to do some training as well then you would need to leave the country to complete the M1 visa (in whichever country appropriate) or so I have been told. Don't think it is as easy as just 'changing' it whilst you are over there.

I would ring up the US Embassy in your country and ask them directly because you don't want to fork out double on atlantic flights that you didn't need just because you didn't get a visa before arriving. It isn't that much hassle getting the visa, just a lot of waiting around unfortunately. oh and a wee bit of money, lest we forget...:oh:

Two options;

1. You ask the school to have the I20 (visa application form) include the dates of hour building, which is not really necessary.

2.On a M1 visa you can enter the country up to 30 days before the start date of your course as stated on the visa.Use this time for your hour building.
Reason being that M1 is a student visa and it allows you time to enter the country, find accomodation,get your study materials, get familiar with your school etc etc before the course actually starts.

*****I am not a visa specialist, so one call to the embassy will clarify this.****

Thanks for the help so far. What concerns me is the fact that the flight school has to vouch for you so you cán get the visa, so I expect them to be quite reluctant to sign you off for a period that you won't be spending with them. Alternatively, I think a call to the embassy might be the best option.

Anyone know if there is any way of extending a J1 visa ?? or getting another one?

If you want to do your time building somewhere else (which you did not mention in your first post) then option 1 does not apply.
Coming into the country ( up to 30 days ahead) does not really put you under their resposibility yet, you are allowed to do so.
You will be on their visa but it has not come into play yet.
30 days should allow you plenty of time building.

You definatley don't need an M1 to hour build. But you will require an FAA Temporary Airmans certificate to fly N reg aircraft. You will need to pay the CAA £38 to verify your JAA/CAA licence to the FAA. You then need to apply to the FAA for a certificate based on a foriegn licence and then go to the FSDO of your choice (in the US) and pick the certificate up.

Gary.

Again a complete load of rubbish from this bul****ter who has been exposed in other posts as having absolutely no experience of commercial flying whatsoever.

Scroggs, isnt it about time this guy was banned?