TSA's Alien Flight Training/Citizenship Validation Rule

AOPA offers a comprehensive guide to the Transportation Security Administration's Alien Flight Training/Citizenship Validation Rule on AOPA Online. Available information includes a summary of the steps involved in the TSA registration process.

While AOPA's guide is complete, the detailed description (below) of the TSA's registration process for alien flight students is from the perspective of someone who has experienced the procedure. It was compiled by a foreign student who in February 2005 successfully obtained permission to receive flight training in the United States. Another applicant's experience with the process could be different.

Provided are a number of additional details, including the approximate amount of time each step should take and, in many cases, contact information and necessary reference information should you wish to check on the status of your application.

Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP)

The purpose of the Transportation Security Administration's Alien Flight Training Rule is to ensure that non-U.S. citizen candidates seeking training at flight schools regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) do not pose a threat to aviation or national security.

Here at the steps to follow to ensure a quick process. This document is based on a non-citizen's steps in successfully applying for, and receiving, approval (for a category 3 application).

You need to create a login (perform this at home)

1. Login to complete the online account request form to create an account.
2. Once you create this account, they will automatically send you a password.
3. Check the email account you specified and get the username and password they issued you.
4. Login to the student's portion of the TSA's Alien Flight Student Web page using the info in step (3). You will then change the password.

You need to register with a flight school (perform this at the flight school)

Make sure you take your passport and U.S. visa (L1, H1/B etc) with you!!!! If at all possible SCAN in your passport #, passport photo and expiration date and U.S. visa (recommend the JPG or PDF format as separate files)

1. Login to the Alien Flight Student Program on the TSA's Web site.
2. Then start the process of registering (you MUST complete all nine steps)
3. First few steps require your passport information (number, issue date, expire date, etc.)
4. You will also need to enter the U.S. visa category you have (L1, H1/B)
5. The next few steps will require information from your flight school (course number, course description, student number, etc.) -- this is where you'll need your instructor's help.
6. You will then need to either send in your passport info (email the jpg/pdf files) or you can fax it (the fax number will be given to you).

The flight school must accept your application

1. Ask your flight instructor to login to the Alien Flight Student Program Web page with their login.
2. They must then approve your application.

Payment

You must now login to the Alien Flight Student Program Web page and pay the $130.00 fee with a credit card.

Passport legible

You will receive an email if your passport was illegible, in which case you will need to fax it to them. If your passport was legible then the next email will be instructions for fingerprinting.

Sending the Fax

If you have to send a fax, then ensure you include the following on the cover page of the fax:

(1) Student Name;
(2) Date of Birth;
(3) Training Request Number;
(4) Provider: Your flight School, Inc. and
(5) Requested Training: Cessna (or similar) Private Pilot

If this is still illegible then you can always send them a scanned copy of your passport and visa(s) to this email address: afsp.help@dhs.gov. Make sure that you include your AFSP Training ID number. They usually respond back a few hours later saying that your email and attachments were received.

Fingerprints

1. You must call them at 703/797-2550 to get two blank fingerprint forms sent to you. This will take four business days (plus or minus) and is sent via FedEx. You can opt to give them your credit card number for them to express overnight this to you. You can also opt to pay for a "prepaid return envelope" that they offer with a credit card. (This is easier than Step 2 below.)
2. Go to the post office and pay for a Certified Mail, Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope. Address this to AFSNC (address will be given to you in the email).
3. You need to fill out both forms with black ink as per these fingerprint instructions or the instructions given in the email.
4. Once you've filled these forms out, get fingerprinted at your local police department (There is probably a $10 fee). Law enforcement agencies normally only fingerprint on certain days and hours -- phone before going.
5. Place both fingerprint cards in envelope and get the police officer to post it to them.

Final steps

Approximately three to four business days later you and your flight school will receive an email stating that you have been approved and that you can start with you flight training.

If neither you nor your flight school have received an email within seven days of sending the fingerprints, then call them at 703/542-1222.

It might be handy to first call the clearing house (TSC) where the fingerprints were sent to at 703/797-2550 and request your case number from them. They will also tell you the date this information was sent to the AFSP. This is an important step because the AFSP will not approve your application until they get this case number from the TSC.

General questions

This is also the number (703/542-1222) you can call if you have any questions, issues, or problems. However you should check the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section on the Web site first as most of the questions you might have will be answered there.

If you're lucky and all goes to plan, you'll be approved within two to three weeks from the date you first started this process. Good luck!

This information was current as of February 2005.