Flight School: Getting a Student Foreign Visa

Lane Wallace

Friday, April 30, 2010 at 11:16 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Non-U.S. citizens require either an M-1 student visa for general flight training or an F-1 student visa, which additionally permits working as a flight instructor in the U.S.
Students must attend an FAA Part 141-approved flight school that is authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to issue the I-20 form, a crucial document for the visa application.
The visa application process involves applying to a qualified school, obtaining the I-20, demonstrating sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses, and attending an interview at a U.S. Consulate with all required documentation.
It is highly recommended to choose a flight academy that offers assistance with the visa process and support for international students to navigate the complexities and acclimate to American life.

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Q: If a non-U.S. citizen wants to take flight training here in the United States, what kind of visa or visas is required? What are the rules, and what’s the best way to go about getting the appropriate visa?

**A:__ **The best answer to this came from Andre Maye, a pilot and vice president of administration for Phoenix East Aviation in Daytona Beach, Florida, who spends “many, many hours each day” working with students, Department of Homeland Security personnel and U.S. Embassies and Consulates on visas for flight training: