Train in the U.S. on an M-1 Student Visa
Oregon Aero Academy is now SEVP-certified and authorized to issue Form I-20 to international flight training candidates.
That means we can bring you to Oregon on an M-1 vocational student visa to earn your FAA certificates and ratings with us. Whether you're building toward an airline career at home or you want U.S.-issued credentials on your record, you can now do it here — in some of the best year-round training airspace in the Pacific Northwest.
Why train in the United States?
- FAA certificates are recognized worldwide: Many national aviation authorities offer a conversion or validation pathway from FAA certificates, and a number of international carriers actively recruit FAA-trained pilots.
- Fly year-round: The Willamette Valley gives you a genuine mix — VFR days, real IFR conditions, mountain terrain within reach, and busy Class B/C/D airspace for radio work that actually prepares you.
- Train continuously: Full-time enrollment means you fly on a schedule, not whenever an aircraft happens to be free. Momentum is the single biggest factor in how fast and how well students finish.
-English-environment immersion: You'll live and train in the same language you'll use on the radio for the rest of your career.
Programs open to international students
We can issue Form I-20 for the following full-time programs:
Full Time Private Pilot
Full Time Instrument Rating
Full Time Commercial Pilot
Note: M-1 status requires enrollment in a **full course of study**. For a vocational program like ours, that generally means at least 18 clock hours per week of instruction where the coursework is primarily classroom-based, or at least 22 clock hours per week where it's primarily shop, lab, or flight activity. Part-time enrollment is not permitted on an M-1 visa. Our admissions team will confirm which program structure fits your goals.
Am I eligible?
You'll need to demonstrate all of the following:
1. Age 18 or older at the start of training.
2. A valid passport from your home country, valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay.
3. English proficiency: You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English well enough to train safely and to meet FAA airman certification requirements.
4. An FAA medical certificate: A first-class Medical Certificate is required for career-track training. Medical exams must be performed by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner, and most students complete this after arrival in the U.S. Certain medical conditions require advance review — tell us early if you have any concerns.
5. Proof of financial support: You must show funds sufficient to cover the full cost of your program plus living expenses for your entire stay, without working in the U.S.
6. Intent to return home: M-1 is a temporary, non-immigrant status. You will need to satisfy a consular officer that you have ties to your home country and plan to return.
7. TSA security clearance through the Flight Training Security Program (see below). This is separate from your visa and is required by U.S. federal law before any flight training begins.
The process, step by step
Step 1 — Apply and be accepted
Submit our international application along with your passport copy, English proficiency documentation, and any prior flight training records or logbooks. We'll schedule an interview to discuss your goals and confirm program fit.
Step 2 — Show your financial documentation
Before we can issue Form I-20, U.S. regulations require us to verify that you have the financial resources to complete your program. You'll provide bank statements, a sponsor affidavit, or an official scholarship/loan letter covering:
- Full program tuition and fees
- Living expenses for the duration of your stay
- Expenses for any dependents accompanying you
Step 3 — We issue your Form I-20
Once you're accepted and your finances are verified, our Designated School Official (DSO) creates your record in SEVIS and issues **Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status (M-1)**. Your I-20 carries a unique SEVIS ID number that you'll use for everything that follows. Review it carefully and tell us immediately if any detail — name spelling, date of birth, country of citizenship — doesn't match your passport exactly.
Step 4 — Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee
Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee online at fmjfee.com using the SEVIS ID from your I-20. Pay this at least three business days before your visa interview, and bring the printed receipt with you. This fee goes directly to the Department of Homeland Security — it is not paid to us, and no school or agent will ever call you to collect it.
Step 5 — Apply for your M-1 visa
Complete Form DS-160 online, pay the visa application (MRV) fee, and schedule an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country. Bring:
- Your passport
- Your signed Form I-20
- Your DS-160 confirmation page
- Your I-901 SEVIS fee receipt
- Financial documentation
- Evidence of ties to your home country
Budget for an additional Visa Integrity Fee. This charge was created by federal legislation in July 2025 and is collected at the time your visa is issued rather than when you apply. Rollout across consular posts has been uneven, so confirm with your specific embassy or consulate whether it applies to you.
Apply as early as you can. You may enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days before the program start date listed on your I-20.
Step 6 — Complete your TSA Flight Training Security Program application
This is the step that catches people out, so read it carefully.
Under 49 CFR Part 1552, every non-U.S. citizen must receive TSA approval before beginning flight training — not before enrolling, not before arriving, but before the first training flight. The program is administered through the Flight Training Security Program (FTSP), formerly known as the Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP), and the current rule has been in effect since July 30, 2024.
- Most students at Oregon Aero Academy apply as a Category 3 candidate — training for a certificate or rating in aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 lbs or less.
- The current fee is paid to TSA.
- You'll submit biographical information, passport and visa documentation, and *fingerprints taken by an authorized collector.
- We register your training request from our side. You create a candidate account and submit your application; we confirm it.
- Processing commonly takes around 30 days, though it is often faster. Build this into your timeline.
- Fingerprints generally carry forward to future training requests as long as you use the same candidate account.
Our DSO and training coordinator walk every student through this process. You will not be doing it alone.
Step 7 — Arrive and check in
Come to the school within 5 days of arriving in the U.S. to complete SEVIS registration with our DSO. Bring your passport, I-20, and I-94 record. We'll then get you set up with your FAA student pilot certificate through IACRA, schedule your medical if you haven't completed one, and start your training.
Staying in status while you're here
M-1 status comes with real obligations. Breaking them can end your training and your ability to return to the U.S. Here's what you need to know:
Length of stay: You'll be admitted for the time needed to complete your program plus 30 days, up to a maximum of one year initially. Extensions are available in increments, but your total time in M-1 status generally cannot exceed **three years** from your original start date. Unlike F-1 students, M-1 students have always been admitted for a fixed period — the September 2026 federal rule change ending "duration of status" applies to F, J, and I categories, not M.
Full-time enrollment: You must maintain a full course of study for the entire program. If illness, weather, or maintenance disruption threatens your progress, talk to our DSO before you fall behind — a reduced course load requires prior authorization and there are only limited grounds for it.
No employment: M-1 students may not work off campus and may not work on campus. The only employment permitted is authorized practical training after you finish your program (see below). Unauthorized work is one of the fastest ways to lose status permanently.
Report changes: Tell our DSO within 10 days if you change your U.S. address, your name, or your funding source.
Transfers are limited: M-1 students may generally only transfer to another SEVP-certified school within the first six months of enrollment, unless you're unable to remain for reasons beyond your control.
Status changes are restricted: You cannot change from M-1 to F-1 status. You also cannot change to H-1B status if the training you received on your M-1 provided the qualifications for that position. If your long-term plan involves working in the U.S., discuss it with an immigration attorney before you enroll — not after.
Practical training after you finish
M-1 students may apply for post-completion practical training in a field directly related to their training. The rules are specific:
- You earn one month of practical training for every four months of full-time study.
- The maximum is six months total, regardless of program length.
- You must file Form I-765 with USCIS along with a DSO recommendation, and you must file it before your program end date (and no earlier than 90 days before).
- You may not begin working until USCIS issues your Employment Authorization Document.
- Practical training is not a path to permanent employment — it's a defined, limited period.
Many of our international graduates use this time to build hours in an aviation-related role before returning home to convert their certificates.
Bringing family
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may apply for M-2 dependent status. Each dependent needs their own Form I-20, which we issue on request. Note that M-2 dependents may not work under any circumstances, and an M-2 spouse may not enroll in a full course of study. M-2 children may attend elementary or secondary school.
Ready to start?
Our Designated School Official is Tony Hann, reachable at thann@OregonAeroAcademy.com or 541-730-3345 Extension 9. Send us your passport copy and a short note about your goals, and we'll tell you honestly whether we're the right school for you.
Oregon Aero Academy
525 Aviation Way
Albany, OR. 97322
541-730-3345 Ext 9 · thann@OregonAeroAcademy.com
Official resources
- I-901 SEVIS fee payment — fmjfee.com
- Student visa information — studyinthestates.dhs.gov
- TSA Flight Training Security Program — fts.tsa.dhs.gov
- Visa appointment wait times — travel.state.gov
- DS-160 application — ceac.state.gov
*Oregon Aero Academy provides this information as a general guide. We are a flight training provider, not an immigration law firm, and nothing on this page is legal advice. U.S. immigration regulations and government fees change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official sources above or consult a licensed immigration attorney for advice about your individual circumstances.*