Visa for training in America

[Wanna-be]

Hi,

I want to become a helicopter pilot and I figgerd out that the best place for training is the US. But there are only 3 school or so, which can give a Visa. Isn't it possible to get a Visa on your own via the American emabsy, so you can train at every school, also the schools that can't give a visa?

Thanks!

[rudestuff]

US visa rules are incredibly complicated - needless to say theres always a way if you have a US family member/Employer/lots of money. Your best bet is to go to a school that gives out J1 visas - or else try to get Cuban Citizenship, then buy a small boat and go north...

[B Sousa]

12 Million Mexicans cant be wrong, come on across the Southern Border......Its pretty obvious by now that the Government only stops those who do it legally........

[R22DRIVER]

If your coming to the US you need to be quick as very soon they are a stopping you coming out on a J1 visa and working as a CFI. Thats going to make it almost impossible for foreigners to work in the US unless you get a green card or get married!!!

[whirlydude]

Originally Posted by B Sousa

12 Million Mexicans cant be wrong, come on across the Southern Border......Its pretty obvious by now that the Government only stops those who do it legally........

So true ? Does anybody know when they will axe the J1 visas porgram .

[TheFlyingSquirrel]

Originally Posted by R22DRIVER

If your coming to the US you need to be quick as very soon they are a stopping you coming out on a J1 visa and working as a CFI. Thats going to make it almost impossible for foreigners to work in the US unless you get a green card or get married!!!

Where did you learn of this driver ?

[FairWeatherFlyer]

Originally Posted by Wanna-be

Isn't it possible to get a Visa on your own via the American emabsy, so you can train at every school, also the schools that can't give a visa?

Visa's are linked to the organisation, i've had L1 and M1 and the application process is tied into the company you are going to. I can't remember much about the process (apart from humorous questions about things like clans on the DS 157 form), but US embassy has a good web site with details. I note HAI has J1 approval so this seems to imply schools have to be approved. Nowadays there's also a TSA vetting process to go through too, something to research. I believe visas are quota'd per 12 month period per country so that's worth checking. Trivia - watch out for poor air conditioning in embassy during summer, and be prepared for an expeditious premium rate 'phone call to book appointment.
The more important question is about career choice. Aviation has heavy up front investment costs, some degree of dropout, a dependence on continuous good medical health, long apprenticeship (hour building), variable employment benefits. The plus side is flying on a sunny day, but you can don't need to be a professional to do that.
The J-1 approach (from my limited understanding) requires full commitment. The aim is to qualify as early as possible so as to use the remaining visa time for any P1-time-increasing employment you can find.

[B Sousa]

"The J-1 approach (from my limited understanding) requires full commitment. The aim is to qualify as early as possible so as to use the remaining visa time for any P1-time-increasing employment you can find. "

An important and useful point. I have seen a few go through my company that walked in the door as low time Robbie Warriors and go home after a few months (upon expiration of their VISA) with a couple hundred or more hours in the A-Star/EC-130. Since they did the right thing on the VISA, they left the door open for returns without problem.

[Wanna-be]

Originally Posted by B Sousa

" I have seen a few go through my company that walked in the door as low time Robbie Warriors and go home after a few months (upon expiration of their VISA) with a couple hundred or more hours in the A-Star/EC-130. Since they did the right thing on the VISA, they left the door open for returns without problem.

What do you mean with low time Robbies? people just finished their training with 15-200 hrs, if so, how is it possible that a company let those lowtimers work on EC-130 and A-star???? Never seen a job where they accepted lowtimers on helicopters other than R22 and Schweizer types. I thought only flightschools want lowtime pilots to work for them.

Thanks for all your replys!!!

[tangovictor]

I know it may be less expensive to learn to fly in the US, however, why go to a country to learn that doesn't really want you there !
take a look at the US's own, web site, the Green Card lottery, UK citizens are BARRED from applying, although we are fighting alongside each other, although, 1000's of UK people buy holiday homes in the US, and spend millions in the US. Great way to treat people America, NOT

[paco]

Yes, but the Brits also have a high proportion of overstayers - source: wife's ex who was quite high up in immigration.

Is the J1 the visa that allows you to receive "training" on on the job? International internships I think they're called.

Phil

[B Sousa]

"with 15-200 hrs, if so, how is it possible that a company let those lowtimers work on EC-130 and A-star???? "

Should have clarified that. ALL have done instructing to bring themselves up to at least 1000 hours and still have time left on the VISA. Enough to get a couple or three good months in the Grand Canyon. Hard work gets them about 100 hours a month turbine time and some spending money.....

[thecontroller]

this is all done in 'secret'. if the school that 'endorses' the individuals J1 visa found out, there would be trouble. the J1 visa is for flight instruction only.

[R22DRIVER]

I was informed of the J1 visa change by our admin lady here at the school, She is responsible for all of our international students and she has been informed by the government. She is normally pretty clued up on visas so im pretty sure its true.

It will be a damn shame if they do acually do this as most of our school is made up of foreigners and i think the US will lose a hell of alot of revenue from this.

The J1 is linked to the school you train at. All you can work as is a CFI if that is what you train for. You cannot do CFI and then work as P2 on a commercial job. If you get a CFI job with another school your original school is still responsible for you in the US and they need to be informed of where you are incase the government check up on you.

Yes you also have to register with the TSA. An extra $100 thankyou very much!. The J1 is only valid for 2 years and then you have to leave if you are not married. To get the J1 you need to show to the US embassy when you go for your interview, you have a place enrolled in the school ( form DS2019 ), you need to have the funds for your full training and living expenses in place and have proof ( Ie bank statement ), Proof of money to cover 2 years of health insurance ( $ 1600 ), TSA fee paid receipt.

If you are missing any of these at your interview you will not be issued a visa.

Its a lengthy process but easy to get through if you research what you need to do. Your prospective school should be able to guide you through the process.

Its well worth it and ive never missed miserable england once!

R22

[KikoLobo]

Heres the deal

A student visa its tough but no big deal. If you want to work in the US thats another story

To study in the us you don't only need a visa, you need TSA background checks..


you need to talk to your school, they will work on your visa and you will go to the internet to the TSA website to fill your information and upload your passport copy and stuff.. Then you send a request to your school (thru the website) and then the school will accept you thru an e-mail they will get.. Then you will need to paty around 100 bucks or more. then you will get instructions via e-mail and an authroization to submit fingerprints, you will then go to an authorized finger print station, they will make your prints and submited, once they get your prints, they will send an e-mail to your school allowing them to start training (temporarly) and after a while they will authorized you fully... Now this is for TSA and not for the STUDENT VISA..

And this is only for a certain category of training which usually includes small helicopters and planes.. If you want boeng training that's another story... there are actually 3 categories for which you can apply.


I hope this helps!

I am Mexican, and i trained in the states but i work in Mexico... This is the place to work, we have over 100 US ships working here, and for that you don't need a US visa you only need an FAA License to fly N helicopters.

[HillerBee]

Getting a J-1 visa through HAI, isn't though at all. When you enroll and have the money etc. After you send in the application forms, they send you your DS2019 to take the US Consulate. (By Fedex, within 2 days)

You can just go to the US Consulate in Amsterdam (call first), show your passport, give them your fingerprints and pay. They don't interview you at all. The whole thing took me 1 hour, with wife and 3 children. They keep your passport to put the visa in and the Fedex it to you in a couple of days.

If you enter the US, immigration might interview you. (at least that's what they say). Again we we're done without any questions in 15 min. (just waiting for a stamp)

The whole process is a piece of cake. (HAI and Netherlands) I don't say it's the same anywhere else.

[Cyclic Hotline]

State Department Proposes to Change Foreign Flight Training Rules

Posted on Tuesday, May 09 @ 10:19:26 Eastern Daylight Time By News Staff

Helicopter Association International (HAI) members are strongly encouraged to submit comments to the U.S. Department of State and to contact their elected officials in Washington, D.C. over proposed changes for training and internship programs (J-1 visas). This is an issue that directly impacts the availability of flight training in the United States. International HAI members that utilize U.S. helicopter flight training facilities under the J-1 program are encouraged to familiarize themselves with this critically important issue.

The Department of State published a Proposed Rule for Training and Internship Programs (J-1 Visa) (22 CFR Part 62.22) in the Federal Register on Friday, April 7, 2006, (Volume 71, Number 67, Pages 17768-17774). This proposal would revise foreign flight training program regulations. These revisions will, among other things, eliminate the distinction between “non-specialty occupations”' and “specialty occupations.”

At the present time, foreign students who are in the United States for flight training at FAA approved flight schools are permitted a two-year visa, which equates to one year of flight training and one additional year of work experience allowing students to build flight hours and practical experience before they return to their country. Many of these students serve as flight instructors during the second phase of their training. The proposed change would only allow for an 18-month visa, allowing one month of additional flight training for each four months of classroom training.

This change will unduly burden the rotorcraft industry by adding to the shortage of helicopter flight instructors. Industry is benefiting from the work authorization allowed under current J-1 visa regulations due to the chronic shortage of helicopter pilots and the need to replace aging pilots in the rotorcraft industry.

Foreign students who come to the United States for helicopter flight training are carefully screened with background checks, fingerprinting, and suitability for flight training. This change in rules will create serious economic harm to the few schools that are approved for helicopter flight training and who offer flight training to foreign students. The FAA approved flight training available in the U.S. helps contribute to aviation safety abroad when students return to their country.

The Department of State will accept comments on the proposed regulation from the public up until June 6, 2006. Send comments to United States Department of State, Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation Private Sector Programs Division ECA/EC/PS - SA-44, Room 734, 301 4th Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20547, telephone: [phone], fax: [phone].

HAI members should also contact their elected Members of Congress in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives to express their concern over this proposed change. Contact information is available at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

HAI would like to hear from our members on any statistics you have compiled under the J-1 program, such as the number of flight hours and the number of former students. Please contact Ann Carroll, Director of Legislative Affairs, at [email protected].

[B Sousa]

Reducing things to 18 months is going to be hard for most to get a little experience before they go home. I certainly dont feel they are hurting the U.S. Pilot market with two years. Besides all I have met were good honest working folks, unlike a lot of those crossing the border.. Note I said unllike a lot, not all.
Anyway the U.S. Government works pretty much under a motto, that "if anyone can screw things up, we can ....and it will cost you more when we do." Shortened to "If it Works, We will Fix it."

[R22DRIVER]

I know if this comes into force the school im at would probably close as 80% of its students are on the J1 and are looking to stay for the duration!

Government Bo~#oc$& as usual!

R22

[rotorboy]

Its about time.
These J1 factory schools have driven up the cost of training.
Driven down the wage for flight instructors.
Flooded the market with low time pilots who will work for less , only to return to their own countrys and good jobs.
Technically the pilots you hear of going to the gulf/ the canyon/ or Alaska are breaking the law. The J1 states you can only work where you trained to gain professional experience. Us operators turn a blind eye.
I wouldnt have a problem with it, but there is no reciprocity in other countrys. US immgration has been a one way street for too long. Lets make it a fair playing field.
KL: I dont know If I would call Mexico " The Place to Work". The work in Mexcio is not low time pilot work by any strech. I have found it both challenging and rewarding flying. You must have a FM-3 visa, work for a US Company, and fly N reg machines, and be paid by the US Company. As a forigner you can not get a Mexican Pilots lic , fly X reg, or work/ be paid by a Mexican operator.
Rotorboy