Flight School
Mission Statement:
"We steadily improve our processes and procedures in order to make our customers ecstatically happy while maintaining the dignity of our entire family of employees".
‹ ›
Frequently Asked Questions TSA Flight Training Requirements M1 Visa for Vocational Training

Alien Flight Training Procedures:

Mid Island Flight School has been approved for the training of foreign 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 AFSP 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 USCIS-approved school in the United States. Mid Island Flight School is a USCIS- approved school and can assist you with this Visa application by providing the necessary I-20M form which you will then present  to the US Embassy or Consulate in your country.  You should take the USCIS Form I-20 to the nearest U.S. consulate to obtain a student visa. You must also prove to the consulate that you have the financial resources required for your education and stay in the United States.   The Embassy or Consulate will be the governing body to issue the M1 Visa for travel and study in the U.S. 

In addition to the Visa application fee, Sevis I-901, payable with your application, Mid Island charges a processing fee of $500 for Form I-20M preparation.  This fee includes future associated DHS correspondence and the filing of extensions and work authorization as applicable.  This fee is payable to Mid Island Air Service by credit card and is not refundable if Visa application is denied by your embassy.

When you arrive in the United States, you should receive a Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record) that will include your admission number.  An Immigration inspector will write this admission number on your Form I-20 M-N/ID. The Inspector will then take pages one and two of this form, known as I-20 M-N. The USCIS will receive the first page (I-20M) and your school will receive the second page (I-20 N) as a record of your legal admission to the United States. You are expected to keep pages three and four, known as the I-20 ID. This document is your proof that you are allowed to study at the indicated institution in the United States. You should see a school representative if you need a replacement copy of your I-20 ID. You should also safeguard your  Form I-94, as it proves your legally entry into the United States.

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 www.flightschoolcandidates.gov
    • 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  
    (click here for local collection sites)
    • You may have your finger prints 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.
    •  Although most collection sites are digital, you may be asked to provide fingerprint cards (available at Mid Island) and possibly a prepaid shipping envelope to the fingerprint collection location (check with fingerprint location for their specific requirements).
    •  The fee for fingerprint collection may vary by location…you may be asked to complete the AFS Enrollment Form and pay a fee on the NATA site at: https://www.natacs.aero/afsp/aaae_begin.asp?agency=1101&agent_number=1002
    • 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 3-5 business days after the submission of your fingerprints
    • You will not be required to re-submit fingerprints for additional flight training courses
     
Frequently Asked Questions TSA Flight Training Requirements M1 Visa for Vocational Training


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

Back to the Top Rev. 12/05/2012