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State Department Shutting Down Flight Training Visa
Program
The State Department announced Friday that it will terminate a visa
program that allows foreigners to study and work at approved American flight
schools.
In a Federal Register policy statement the department says that it will no
longer allow designated flight schools to sponsor international aviation
students and graduates for 24 months to complete coursework and gain
practical experience in the United States.
For 20 years, State has administered flight training programs under its
Exchange Visitor Program. Foreign graduates are able to gain work experience
with a J-l visa, also commonly used for au pairs, business trainees and
foreign medical residents.
On Friday, State said it had "determine^] that all flight training programs
no longer further the public diplomacy mission of the department."
Additionally, the department says it "does not have the expertise and
resources to monitor fully flight training programs and ensure their
compliance with national security concerns that underlie the Patriot Act
(PL 107-56)."
The 2001 anti-terrorism law was passed in response to the Sept. 11 attacks
and, in addition to many other immigration provisions, requires more robust
monitoring of foreign students.
Foreign aviation students and trainees currently have three methods to gain
entry to the U.S. The F-l student visa allows participation in accredited
academic programs. With an M-l vocational visa, international students can
receive in-flight training for one year. The two year J-l visa allows trainees to
complete in-flight training and to work as flight instructors.
Because the Airline Transport Pilot license, which is required for commercial
pilots, requires a minimum of 1,500 flight hours, hundreds of foreign pilot
trainees elect to complete course work and work as flight instructors under
the J-l visa in order to gain the requisite time to take final examinations.
The United States is the leading pilot training location for European
commercial pilots, as well as private and commercial pilot worldwide,
according to the American Immigration Lawyer Association.
Robert P. Deasy, director of the AILA liaison and information department,
said elimination of the visa would threaten the viability of J-l schools.
"We are unclear as to why flight training programs are being reduced to M-l
standards. It is our understanding that individuals who come for M-l flight
training and J-l flight training come to the U.S. for very different purposes/'
Deasy said in an interview. "Full flight training requires 24 months."
Terry Fensome, CEO of Pelican Flight Training Center in Pembroke Pines,
Fla., said in an interview that foreign pilot training is so strong because the
large number of American flight schools competing for market share keeps
prices considerably lower than in other countries. Students also have more
opportunities to gain flight experience by acting as instructors and with many
schools located in Florida, Arizona and California, weather conditions
maximize potential flight time.
The State Department has designated eight American schools to administer
J-l visas for pilots. The department said Friday that there are approximately
350 foreign nationals training under the J-l visa annually.
Fensome disputed those figures. His school, one of the eight designated,
brings in about 100 students under the J-l visa annually.
"The national figure is probably closer to 600-700 people" yearly" Fensome
said. "That's a lot of revenue for those states."
When State first proposed changes to the J-l visa program for flight training
rules in 2006, the Small Business Administration estimated that the then nine
designated J-l flight schools relied on the visa program for 50 percent or
more of their revenue.
State responded Friday that the SBA concerns are "outweighed by the
security interests of the government."
All foreign nationals wishing to receive in-flight training in the United States
must first be vetted by the Transportation Security Administration which, in
conjunction with the Justice Department, administers the Alien Flight Student
Program.
Johannes Knudsen, who directs the program, said applicants must provide
biometric and biographical information and are given background checks.
Existing J-l flight training program participants will be allowed to complete
their visa, but new enrollees will not be accepted after Dec. 31, 2009.
