U.S. Visa & TSA Process
At CFA, we have many years of experience bringing students to the U.S. and will ensure your move occurs smoothly.
Students not from the U.S. wishing to attend California Flight Academy are required by law to obtain a M-1 Student Visa and complete the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements.
To learn more about each process, please see the respective section below.
U.S. Student Visa
The process of obtaining a M-1 student visa is fairly simple. CFA will provide you with the I-20 form via mail (such as FedEx) which will arrive at your permanent address provided to us in your application. Once you receive your I-20 form you must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee online at www.fmjfee.com. This fee maintains the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Call your local U.S. Embassy to make an appointment to apply for your M-1 Visa. This process could take several weeks, depending on demand. To prepare for your appointment, you must bring the following:
- Original I-20 form issued from California Flight Academy.
- Valid Passport with expiration date of at least 6 months past your intended period of stay.
- Proof of payment for the I-901 SEVIS fee.
- Proof of financial certification and evidence of ties in your country.
- Please visit www.usembassy.gov or contact your local U.S. Embassy to ensure you have all the required documents.
TSA Process
The TSA requires all non-U.S. citizen applicants of CFA to complete the AFSP process. To complete this process, you must:
- Go to https://fts.tsa.dhs.gov/home and click on “Create New Student Account”.
- Complete the required information and ensure it matches your passport information.
- After you have created an account and received your password, log in and create a training request.
- If attending CFA for the Commercial Pilot Program (or the Professional Pilot Program), the first course you will take is course name “Initial”. The Course ID will be “02” for Private. The aircraft used in this training will be a Cessna 172. Please list all these aircraft in the training request.
- If you already have an FAA private license and are seeking an advanced rating, please use course name “Instrument” and course ID “02” for Instrument Rating. The aircraft used in this training will be a Cessna 172. Please list all these aircraft in the training request.
- If you already have an FAA instrument license and are seeking an advanced rating, please use course name “MEL” and course ID “02” for Multi-engine and for Commercial. The aircraft used in this training will be a Beechcraft-76. Please list all these aircraft in the training request.
- If you already have an FAA commercial license and are seeking an advanced rating, please use course name “CFI” and course ID “02” for Certified Flight Instructor.
Note: Your FAA Medical Certificate, photos and fingerprints can be completed upon your arrival in the U.S.
If you need additional assistance with obtaining a Visa or completing the TSA Process, please complete the Request Information Form or contact your Admissions Advisor at [email protected] or call (619) 448-2212.
English Requirements
Become fluent in english at California Flight Academy.
We’ll assess your level of English to help you know where to begin.
We are excited that you have decided to start your pilot training at California Flight Academy. Learning to fly is fun and exciting and safety is one of our top priorities, but it comes with a big responsibility. Communicating properly with other pilots and the control towers is a large part of your training, and it is for this reason that pilots must be able to communicate properly in English.
Prior to your arrival, we will help determine your level of English language by having you complete an easy conversation with our Director of Admissions. The assessment helps us determine your level of English fluency and identify areas that you may need to improve in order to be successful in the program, including aviation-specific vocabulary.
The best way to obtain better proficiency speaking a foreign language is by immersing yourself where that language is spoken. At California Flight Academy, you will have the opportunity to practice English in and around town, and with fellow classmates experiencing similar situations. To maximize your experience, we are happy to help arrange a host family near the academy.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact us at (619) 448-2212.
Converting Licenses & Ratings
As a candidate with previous flight experience, you’ve dedicated time, hard work and money in achieving your pilot training goals. California Flight Academy recognizes the importance of this investment and will assist you in understanding the process of converting this experience to the U.S.
If you have completed previous flight hours only (no licenses or ratings), we are pleased to consider transferring these hours to CFA. Please complete the Request Information form above or call (619) 448-2212 to speak with an Admissions Advisor for further details.
If you have completed a foreign license or rating (including Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, or Commercial Multi-Engine Rating), please complete the steps below to convert to a U.S. FAA license or rating:
- Download, print and complete the following form: Verification of Authenticity of Foreign License, Rating and Medical Certification.
DOWNLOAD FORM HERE
Note for question 11 – Enter the following as your Flight Standard District Office (FSDO):
Flight Standard District Office
8525 Gibbs Drive
San Diego, CA 92123 - Obtain a legible copy of your foreign pilot license and medical license or endorsement. Include a copy of the English transcription of your license, if applicable.
- Once completed, send these documents to the FAA by one of the following methods:
By Mail:
Federal Aviation Administration
Airmen Certification Branch, AFS-760
P.O. Box 25082 Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0082
By Fax:
Fax number: (405) 954-9922 - Once the FAA receives your documents, they will verify your documents with the proper foreign authorities and issue a Verification of Authenticity Letter to the San Diego FSDO location indicated. A copy will be sent to you via mail. Please note this process takes 45 to 90 days on average. We recommend you begin the process as soon as possible.
NOTE that you may still apply, enroll and begin your flight training at CFA while your Verification of Authenticity Letter is being processed.
If you need additional assistance with this process, please contact your Admissions Advisor at [email protected] or call (619) 448-2212.