CIA Flight School is approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to issue M-1 Visas for international flight training. CIA is the ideal location for international flight training as we are conveniently located forty-five minutes north of Los Angeles International Airport in Camarillo. The city is close to beaches, has great shopping and is close to the neighboring towns of Santa Barbara and Malibu which are popular among tourists. Camarillo is also a very safe community and friendly to international students.
To begin the enrollment process, please contact the flight school manager who is the Designated School Official for CIA’s SEVP approval. The flight school manager will take you through the process, conduct an interview using Skype and will issue the necessary documents required to obtain an M-1 Visa. Once you arrive in the States, the flight school manager will meet with you to complete the enrollment process and will be a resource to you while enrolled in training. International flight training students are required to spend twenty-two hours per week at CIA for training whether they’re taking flight lessons or studying on their own. We have a dedicated study room with access to free wireless internet. For detailed information, please contact us.
CIA does not offer formal housing to international flight training students but has a relationship with a hotel close by for short term stays and can help make recommendations for long term stays. The most popular way to find accommodation is through www.airbnb.com.
All non-US citizens are required to complete a background check with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prior to taking any international flight training towards a rating (Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, etc.). To begin the process please complete an account with www.flightschoolcandidates.gov and pay the $130 processing fee. Once your account has been reviewed the applicant will be asked to submit fingerprints which will be coordinated by a CIA representative. Once approval from the TSA is received training may begin. The process typically takes about three weeks for approval.