Alien Flight Training

Flight Training Student Program Procedures:

Mid Island Flight School is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. We have provided flight training for all ratings to students from many different countries around the world. If a student is not a U.S. citizen, there are certain steps which must be followed to insure that the proper government training authority is obtained prior to beginning flight training.

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 or the State Department Consular Affairs Office for assistance. The FTSP will deny flight training requests from candidates who are present in the United States illegally or who do not have an appropriate visa for flight training.

A foreign student must enter the U.S. with the proper immigration Visa; for flight training purposes, this would be an M1 Visa. You first must apply to study at a SEVP certified school in the United States. Mid Island Flight School is not a SEVP certified school and can not assist you with this Visa application.

Prior to beginning your flight training, you must obtain TSA flight training authorization. TSA approval is required for Sport, Recreational, Private Pilot, Instrument and Multi. Commercial, CFI and ATP training is exempted from TSA security threat assessment. Please follow these easy steps:

1. Contact Mid Island Flight School Official to:
   • Obtain start/end dates of training program
   • Provide copy of visa & passport
   • Pay $100 processing fee
     ($50 to be credited to school enrollment fee when classes begin)
   • Have photo taken which will be uploaded to TSA website
2. Log onto FTSP.
   • Create new log in to complete online application
   • Pay appropriate processing fee on-line
   • Submit copy of valid passport with application
3. Mid Island will validate flight training request on TSA website upon completion of application and payment of TSA and MIAS fees.
4. Flight student will be prompted via email to submit fingerprints to TSA
   
   • You may have your fingerprints taken upon your arrival into the United
     States; these may not be transferred, so you may be asked to repeat them for TSA.
   • You must provide a printed copy of the Fingerprint Instruction email received
     from TSA, valid passport and a second, government-issued photo ID.
   •   The fee for fingerprint collection may vary by location…Complete the AFSP Enrollment Form and pay a fee on the NATA site at: https://secure.natacs.aero/afsp/
   • Again, check with specific site for their requirements.
5. Flight student and School Official will receive email from TSA authorizing the start of flight training
   • Average processing time is 5-14 business days after the submission of your fingerprints
   • You will not be required to re-submit fingerprints for additional flight training courses

Additional Links for Information for Alien Flight Training Requirements & Visas:

• www.ice.gov/sevis/
• www.educationusa.info
• travel.state.gov
• www.flightschoolcandidates.gov
• www.immigrationforms.com/us-visit-resources

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Rev. 03/28/2022