Alien Flight Student Program – real first step for foreigners

So you, like me decided to start learning to fly. You probably have already logged in tens (if not hundreds) of hours of browsing the Internet. You can start citing all things you have to ask your potential CFI or school manager before you decide to go with them. But, unless you are lucky, so far probably nobody told you that you actually can’t even think of training if you don’t have green light from TSA.

After 9/11 the administration decided that every single person with other than American citizenship has to be deeply screened and get the approval before she or he can start flight training. Fortunately for us, legal foreigners, the whole process is quite simply, just takes time.

First, you have to go to the TSA website www.flightschoolcandidates.gov. This site is specially created for foreigners who want to start flight training in the US. I want describe in details how the whole process of registration goes – it’s clearly stated there in the FAQ. Just couple hints that will allow you to make it fast and without errors:

• have your passport handy as you will be ask for it’s (and visa) numbers
• have scans (or digital photos) of all documents you are entering ready to upload – you will be able to send it electronically to them and it will definitely speed up the process
• you have to get your provider (the flight school you have chosen) contact information as you have to point your trainer on this form – the permissions is for certain school so be prepared as change of provider will need another permission!

Next step is document acceptance and provider approval – if you’re future school is aware of your plans to use them for your training this step shouldn’t take more than couple of hours.

After your being approved you have to pay processing fee. another quick and easy step – use your credit/debit card and you’re set.

Now here is a tricky step – you have to be fingerprinted. Detailed instructions will be sent to you, just some hints again:

• you will need blank fingerprint cards. The only place you can get right ones is your future training provider so ask for them in advance to speed up the process
• you can make things even faster if you will find the place where your fingerprints can be transmitted (not taken, transmitted! most of places nowadays scan prints electronically but then they just print them out like they were taken in ink) electronically – it’s usually much more expensive, but the TSA has your fingerprints instantly.

Now all you have to do is wait for an email saying that you are approve and that you can start learning how to fly.

Good luck!