Just found this about flight training in the US, makes things a little clearer.

Prior to beginning training, the applicant must register on TSA's Web site, http://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov. Initially they will be given a user name and password via e-mail. After receiving the user name and password, the student must log on to the TSA web site and submit the required information concerning their personal identification, passport and visa information, and details of the type of flight training they are seeking. In addition, they will need to submit the following:
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">Ÿ Fingerprints — The prints can be taken either electronically or by provided forms. After they are completed, the prints are sent to the American Association of Airport Executives, who then forwards a copy to TSA. Additional instructions can be found on TSA's Web site at https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov/fp_instr.html.
Ÿ $130 application processing fee — The fee must be paid by credit card on the TSA's Web site.

Ÿ Photo — TSA recommends taking the photo after the candidate and flight school receive the final e-mail confirming the candidate's eligibility to take flight training, at which point it can either be uploaded to TSA's Web site or faxed to

Thx, but i'v e just send tsa and the embassy a mail concerning the visa. Waiting for an answer.

Re: Visas and USA training
 

For Most of you, you may want to get the visa application started before you move to the USA.

Visa notice: Taking flight training without an appropriate visa could be a violation of your immigration status and could result in your arrest and removal from the United States; therefore, it is important that you have a visa that permits you to take flight training in the United States. If you do not possess the correct visa, or if you have questions pertaining to your visa status or the appropriate visas for flight training, please contact your local Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services at 800/375-5283 or www.uscis.gov

Candidate Notifies Flight School. The flight training candidate should provide advanced notice to the flight school that he or she intends to start flight training.

Flight School Registers. After the candidate notifies the flight school of their intent to start flight training, the flight school needs to register online with TSA at https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov/fsindex.html.

Candidate Applies for Training.
Use the TSA student registration page at https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov and continues the application process.

The candidate will be required to submit the following information:

* Background Information. Full name, gender, current address and five-year address history, date and country of birth, and citizenship information.
* TSA Identification Number. The TSA identification number is not given to the candidate. Rather, it is an internal designator only seen by TSA.
* Passport and Visa Information. Foreign applicants are required to have a passport. A candidate may either scan his or her complete passport and submit it to TSA electronically, or copy his or her complete passport and fax it to TSA using the fax number provided on the AFSP Web site.
* Training Details. Basic information including the name of the school, course name, course de_script_ion and ID number, type of aircraft, pilot certificate or rating sought, and the start and end dates for the flight training. If the flight school is already registered with TSA, it might be helpful if the candidate brings his or visa and passport and registers at the flight school. This will allow the flight school to upload the required documents to TSA and also to make copies for the flight school's record-keeping requirements.

The following visitors will NOT qualify for the Visa Waiver Program and MUST apply for a visa:

* Persons who have ever been arrested or convicted of any offence (excepting certain fixed penalty driving offences that did not result in a conviction). Note: The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply in respect of US immigration law - if you have ever been arrested or convicted of any offence, no matter how long ago it was, you must apply for a visa before travelling to the US.

* Persons who have ever overstayed in the US, been refused entry or not complied with the rules of the visa under which they were present in the US

* Persons who have certain serious communicable diseases or condition

False information, sorry.

A student visa is specific to every school.

We're about to start the SEVIS approval process.
I can tell you no flight training school will transfer your visa because it's simply against its financial interests and because of the workload and responsibility involved in issuing the initial visa.

Not all students understand why, but flight schools are not NGO's :)

How Long?
 

Hi

So how long does the Visa process take for the US if everything runs smoothly.

Does anyone have the contact number so i can contact them to ask some questions?

Thanks

If the pilot school or training center has an available course the processing time for applicants visiting the US Embassy in London presently stands at 1 day, with an interview appointment available within 1 day of telephoning. The hold-up will be the TSA security threat assessment (2-4 days) and the I-20 M-N delivery which must be posted from within the US (10 days). All fits comfortably inside two weeks.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wa...ondon&x=57&y=6

Hey pdsgillet,

for your info the number for the U.S embassy is 09042450100 if I remember correctly. Be warned though, it costs £1.20 a minute!!! :eek:

To add to what Selfin has said, I waited 2 weeks for an interview date (which is tomorrow). Don't forget that to issue the I-20 most schools will want a deposit which can take up to 2 weeks to transfer. You can't get an interview without the I-20 details. So that could be 4 weeks in itself.

Selfin/Pace152 thanks for the info.

If i head out to the US to bulid some hours and look at flight schools (on a holiday visa) can i then proceed with my CPl training out there and get all the visa sorted from that end.
I know its not the conventional method but might save me a flight back to the UK.

cheers

The Embassy is only interested in applicants turning up with a valid I-20 M-N. For all intents and purposes they don't need to know it is in the post at the time of making the telephone appointment.

I-20 processing time + delivery is a 15 day job following the TSA assessment. As soon as the DSO says the I-20 is in the post, telephone the Embassy for an appointment 10-15 days in advance of the call. Leave a few days for the passport+M-1 visa to be delivered and you're set to go.

There is no requirement for a TSA security threat assessment for aliens undertaking a Part 61/141 US commercial pilot certificate course. See http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/IFR_Alien_Pilot.pdf (69 FR 56324-56343) for a breakdown of when the assessment is required, or 49 USC 44939, or 49 CFR 1552.3 or AOPA's Guide to TSA's Alien Flight Training/Citizenship Validation Rule.

And for the benefit of others thinking of entering the US under the visa waiver program an adjustment of status is disallowed. See http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/c2_english.pdf or Sec. 248 of INA.

All this has been covered may times in this forum.

ok guys im getting different answers from everyone.
According to what i believe -
1) Get I-20
2) Apply for M1 VISA interview
3) Once confirmed visa finish the TSA requirements and payments.
4) go to flying school

Now im getting confused as to whether
a) I do the TSA before applying for the interview or after?
b) What is this SeVIS application?
c) anything else im missing?

:ugh::ugh:

The sequence is as follows for aliens (citizens/nationals of Canada/Mexico may follow a modified sequence):

• Find a FAA Part 141 school
• Check course availability
• Request training
• Submit assessment request(s) and fee(s) to TSA
• Receive TSA clearance(s)
• Enter contract with school for training
• Wait for form I-20 from school
• Submit SEVIS I-901 fee and application
• Complete DOS nonimmigrant visa application(s)
• Make appointment with US Embassy/consulate for visa
• Attend interview
• Receive passport and M–1 visa
• Book flights to US
• [If applicable:] FAA/JAA/NAA-related tasks (medicals, foreign-based pilot certificates, etc)
• Enter US on M–1
• Complete form I-94 Arrival-Departure record
• Report to school on or before formal start date
• Full-time course of training
• Ensure school 'closes' TSA request when training is completed
• Exit US inside visa status, surrender I-94.

The requirement for a TSA security threat assessment is well-documented in the Federal Register, September 20, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 181), pp. 56324-56343.

Where an intention to undertake a course of study in the US has been established an M-1 class of visa is necessary for admission to the US. There is additionally a requirement for alien students to register with SEVIS, prior to petitioning the Department of State for a nonimmigrant visa (the M-1 visa in your case).

SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is the technology behind a programme (SEVP - Student and Exchange Visitor Program) established under §641 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (as amended by USA PATRIOT Act) [all codified at 8 USC 1372] which required the collecting of information relating to nonimmigrant alien students and exchange visitor programme participants undertaking a course of study in the US.

From the student's point of view there are only two important considerations regarding SEVIS. 1. Ensuring the selected school is SEVP-certificated, 2. Filing I-901 at www.fmjfee.gov (the SEVIS interface), paying appropriate fee and printing receipt for presentation at the interview.

ohh right!! thanks a lot. I might aswell file my TSA stuff now.

Abs

I'm from Europe and think about doing my PPL in the USA.
My question: Must I do PPL training at part 141 schools only? Is there any legal way I can do PPL training at a part 61 flight school?

Only Part 141 certified schools can issue the I-20, which is the visa application form.
You can still do your training under part 61 , even with a Part 141 certified school, if you so desire.

This is the practice but the Department of Homeland Security will tell you otherwise.

Notwithstanding my last post, a lady in TSA's AFSP recently told me new rules are being drafted to allow non-141 schools to accept students. You may wish to check with AFSP yourself for more information.