Private Pilot test for Non US Citizens

[Fluiddynamicist]

G'day boys and girls,

I am about to move to USA (MA to be exact - KBAF area) and am looking at learning to fly. I am an Australian citizen and I heard horror stories about non-US citizens wanting to get the private pilot licence (certificate) post 9/11.

I'd truly appreciate if you can point me in the direction of what do I need to do and whom to see when I get there ...getting a Social Security # seems daunting enough.

Cheers and beers

go Red Sox!!!

[andyrus]

Hello,

It should not be too difficult. As a foreigner you will have to go through TSA background check. Visit TSA's Alien Flight Student Program website www.flightschoolcandidates.gov for detailed information.
Additionally, you will need to get fingerprints taken in one of the TSA approved offices http://www.tsc-csc.com/printoffices/. I am a greencard-holder and I am going though this process right now. It can be done in about one week and will cost about $204 ($130 TSA and $74 fingerprints).

Good luck.

[Marilanea]

I am about to move to USA (MA to be exact - KBAF area) and am looking at learning to fly.

You may want to get the process 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 USCIS Home Page

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 description 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 candidate training request status is available on the AFSP candidate home page at https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov. Each training request the candidate has entered into the system is listed in the Current Flight
Training Applications section of the AFSP home page after login.

Fingerprints. American Association of Airport Executives at 703/797-2550. has reported that it is not issuing fingerprinting forms to candidates, only flight schools and instructors. Your fingerprints will be reviewed by the FBI which will help run a background check on you.