Foreign Student Registration Requirements and General Information on Applying for a Student Visa
STEP 1:
Please submit our student application form.
STEP 2:
The following documents will need to be sent along with the application:
- Scanned color copy of identification and expiration portion of passport
- Scanned color copy of passport size photo
- Non-refundable application fee of $500.00
- Proof of financial responsibility. This needs to be an official bank document showing that you have funds available for flight training desired and living expenses. Living expenses are based at $700.00 per month while you are in the USA. If the funds are deposited in a bank in another individuals name you will need to have that person send a letter stating that they will be financially responsible for your living expenses and flight training while in the USA.
Please submit these documents using our submission form.
PRICE OPTIONS:
Full Price $500.00 U.S. Dollars
STEP 3:
SKYMATES FLIGHT ACADEMY will then send you an acceptance letter along with an M-1 Visa Application (also called an I-20 form)
STEP 4:
Complete the form I-901 online. The cost for this will be $350. You will receive a receipt immediately after registration. Later you will receive your official receipt of payment in the mail. You must complete this step prior to scheduling your interview appointment with the American Embassy. Important – the information you enter on the Form I-901 must match exactly as you entered on the Form I-20. Include an additional $30.00 to expedite the process if needed (recommended). You may pay this fee by credit card online or you can print out the application and send it with a money order issued by an American bank. You must have this receipt when visiting the US Embassy to apply for your visa and you will need to forward a copy of this receipt to the school also.
Complete the DS-160 form online. The cost for this will be $160. The DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form, is for temporary travel to the United States, and for K (fiancé(e)) visas. Form DS-160 is submitted electronically to the Department of State website via the Internet. Consular Officers use the information entered on the DS-160 to process the visa application and, combined with a personal interview, determine an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa.
Visa applicants must submit a completed DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application for all nonimmigrant visa categories
STEP 5:
The prospective student must call the nearest U.S. Embassy for an appointment to receive approval of the M-1 visa. The student will then go to the U.S. Embassy with the appropriate documents for a routine interview. Appropriate documents include: Form I-20; Passport; Financial Statements; Receipt for payment of Form I-901. The student will be notified as to whether they have been approved or disapproved. If all is in order, the U.S. Embassy will provide the student with a M-1 Student Visa, permitting the student to enter the U.S. The length of time for this process varies from country to country. It may be a good idea to practice your interview with a friend or family member and to research the aviation field in your home country. Three of the most important questions asked by the Embassy are as follows:
- Why you would like to become a pilot?
- What assurance can you give us that you will return to your home country after completion of your flight training?
- How do you know that you can obtain a position as a pilot after returning home?
STEP 6:
Fill out application for a background check with TSA online. The application-processing fee for each course is $130. The name on the credit card used must match the name on the application. If there is no fingerprinting agency located in your home country, you will need to have the fingerprint portion completed after entering the United States. You can verify if there is an agency in your home country by going to the above link and completing the form, after which, an email will be sent to you requesting fingerprints and you will be given access to a website that will show you all fingerprinting agencies. The TSA fee does not have to be paid until after you have received approval for you M-1 visa.
STEP 7:
Time to pack your bags! After receiving an M-1 visa, the student must provide SKYMATES with the details of his/her travel arrangements before entry to the United States. This includes flight information and arrival time at DFW International Airport. Upon request, SKYMATES will schedule a pick up service from the airport through the local shuttle service. Please arrive one week prior to your enrollment date. If you arrive too early or too late, you will not begin your training until the next enrollment date.
STEP 8:
It is recommended that all International Students purchase a “Medical/Accident” Insurance Policy prior to arriving in the U.S., for the length of time they are in flight training at SKYMATES. There are several insurance companies listed on the Internet to help you with this service.