Visas for International Students

Mauna Loa Helicopters offers M-1 and F-1 visas for international students interested in training full-time in our Professional Pilot Program.  International students are required to spend a minimum of 22 hours per week on the Mauna Loa campus receiving flight instruction, ground instruction, or studying.

Click here to download Mauna Loa Helicopter's Visa procedures.

F-1 Visa

Mauna Loa Helicopters, one of the country’s oldest and largest helicopter training programs, has received authorization from the Department of Homeland Security to issue I-20 applications for F-1 visas to international students enrolling in the Professional Pilot Program.

“The ability to sponsor students on the F-1 visa program is a huge advantage for our international students,” says Ben Fouts, Mauna Loa president.  “Participants in the F-1 visa program have the opportunity to gain practical experience as flight instructors in the United States upon completion of their training.”

The F-1 visa is critically important to career-oriented overseas students in that it will make it far easier for them to convert their pilot certificates when they return to their home country. That’s because they will be able to accumulate significant flight experience prior to returning home. In most cases, overseas students will want to earn their Airline Transport pilot (ATP) rating, with a minimum of 1,200 hours’ flight experience, before converting their pilot certificate.
“Over the years we have worked hard to accommodate international students wishing to train in the U.S.,” Fouts added.  “Our training costs here are generally less than in many countries around the world, so obtaining the authority to issue F-1 visas is the answer to the dreams of many, many potential students.

It is widely understood that many countries are protective of their own flight training industry and therefore make it difficult to obtain a local certificate solely on the basis of overseas training. Being able to offer international students the opportunity to gain additional experience by becoming flight instructors in the U.S. is the single best way to overcome this obstacle. Mauna Loa Helicopters is one of just three helicopter flight training schools in the country authorized to issue F-1 and M-1 visas for international students.

M-1 Visa

The M-1 visa is used for both short-term vocational education experiences, such as earning your Private or Commercial ratings, as well as for our full professional pilot program.

An M-1 visa student may be approved by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for a period of practical training at the end of his or her respective program.  The practical training operates on a four-to-one study to work ratio with a maximum practical training period of six months.

The maximum period for which an M-1 visa may be issued is 12 months.  If needed, the student may apply for an extension to the visa of up to 12 additional months for a nominal fee.  The student must leave the country within 30 days after the expiration of the visa.

Prior to being issued an I-20, the application for an M-1 visa, the student must register with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at www.flightschoolcandidates.gov.  The TSA will conduct a background check to verify that the student is not a risk to U.S. national security.  Please contact the Mauna Loa administrative office for more information about the process.

In order to be issued the I-20 from Mauna Loa Helicopters, the student should apply for the M-1 visa at the closest U.S. visa issuing agency (Embassy or Consulate General) for non-immigrant visas.

The I-20 will list a designated start date.  The student may enter the United States up to 30 days prior to the start date but must report to Mauna Loa Helicopters by the designated start date.

Payment Terms:

Tuition deposit of 10% is required and may be paid by credit card, international money order, or by wire transfer. Please email or call for account details for a wire transfer. Remainder of estimated tuition is due upon arrival.

License Verification

Pilots applying for a FAA certificate issued on the basis of a foreign license must have the validity and currency of the foreign license and medical certificate or endorsement verified by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that issued those certificates.

The applicant may submit the required information using this form developed by the FAA’s Airmen Certification Branch. Download form here.

The applicant sends:

• the completed form;
• a copy of their foreign license;
• a copy of their foreign medical;
• an English translation of these documents (if applicable); and
• a copy of a photo ID (preferably the photo page of their passport) by mail to:

SEND OR FAX

Airmen Certification Branch
AFS-760
P.O. Box 25082
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0082
Fax: +1 (405) 954-9922

When the FAA in Oklahoma receives verification from the country in which a license was issued the applicant will receive written notification that a copy has been forwarded to the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) designated in the request. The pilot will contact that FSDO to make an appointment for license issuance.
It is recommended that the pilot allows at least 60-days for the verification procedure.
 
The verification letter is valid for 6 months.  The pilot must have a valid verification letter in order to add an instrument rating to a restricted Private license, and/or to take an FAA Commercial checkride.

For UK CAA/JAA License Holders Only:

Due to the British Data Protection Act holders of UK licenses must complete an additional form and submit that form to the UK CAA before they will verify information. For further information on this procedure go to their web site (www.caa.co.uk).

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Requirements

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), through the Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP), requires non-U.S. citizens seeking flight training for their first pilot’s license and/or their first instrument rating to go through background screening. Student are required to complete an online form, pay a processing fee of $130, submit fingerprints, and receive preliminary approval, before commencing flight training. Students are allowed to commence ground training while waiting for this approval. 

F-1 Visa Students FAA Program:

If you are coming to Mauna Loa Helicopters as a participant of the F-1 visa program we will need you to send us the following:

• Completed Enrollment Application
• Copy of your High School Diploma/GED/or college diploma/transcript. Documents in any language other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
• Proof of English Language Proficiency
• Medical insurance must be maintained while training in the U.S.
• 10% of estimated tuition to be pre-paid. (refundable)
• $300 F-1 visa fee.
• Enrollment with TSA – background check https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov/fsindex.html
• Copy of FAA Class 2 medical.  A list of FAA approved doctors can be found at http://ame.cami.jccbi.gov
• Copy of photo page of valid passport

Once we receive these items we will send you the Form I-20 application for the F-1 visa. It is the Form I-20 "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student" that you will take to the US Embassy for your interview. Contact your local US Embassy to make an appointment and obtain additional application requirements.