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Flight School: Getting a Student Foreign Visa

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Non-U.S. citizens must obtain an M-1 or F-1 student visa for flight training in the U.S., which requires enrollment in an FAA Part 141-approved school authorized by Homeland Security to issue the I-20 form.
  • The F-1 visa allows students to complete a professional pilot program and work as a flight instructor, while the M-1 visa covers various pilot certificates and ratings but does not permit employment.
  • The application process involves applying to an authorized school, obtaining the I-20 form, providing proof of sufficient funds for tuition and living expenses, and attending a visa interview at a U.S. Consulate at least 60-90 days in advance.
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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:

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