1. Log onto TSA/AFSP website http://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov
a. Know the dates of the training duration.
b. Pay the processing fee of $100.00 though the website.
c. Submit a copy of a valid passport with the application.

PART 1-A OBTAIN A USER ID AND PASSWORD FROM TSA
The applicant (International Student or Resident Alien) will register on the TSA website: http://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov. This website contains the application for alien students seeking to train at FAA-regulated flight schools in the United States.

All International Students and Resident Aliens (Green Card Holders) are required to submit personal information to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), so a background check can be completed prior to starting each flight training course at Wings of the Cascades.

1. At http://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov get a “user id” and a “password.” As a first-time visitor the applicant will click on the “new student account” link beside the “login” icon.

2. Complete the On-Line Account Request Form and click on the “submit request” button.

3. The “user id” and “password” from TSA will arrive by email very quickly.

PART 1- B. PROVIDE TSA WITH CANDIDATE INFORMATION

1. After receiving the User Name and Password from TSA, the International Student or Resident Alien logs in at http://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov .

2. Complete all required information in the following Part 1 – Steps 1 through Step 6. Complete the following steps in the document on the TSA website:

Step 1: Basic Information
Step 2: Other Names
Step 3: Citizenship Information
Step 4: Identification Numbers
Step 5: Address Information
Step 6: Employment

FLIGHT STUDENT CANDIDATE INFORMATION
SECTION 1-C REQUEST FOR TRAINING

TSA PART 2 – STEP 7 PROVIDE TSA WITH TRAINING DETAILS

1. Complete all required information in this application:
NOTE: Regardless of the total amount of training you intend to do, this initial application is only for the first course in your program. This example is for the Private Pilot course where most students begin their training.

State: Oregon
Provider: Wings of the Cascades Spirit Flight, Inc.
Student Identification Number: leave blank

Course ID Number: Choose one for each training request
This varies based on your starting point. Most people begin with the Private Pilot Course P01. You only list the first course in your program for this initial application form.

Please choose from the following:
    Private Pilot Certificate or License - P01
    Instrument Rating - I02
    Commercial Pilot Certificate or License - C03
    Multi-engine Rating - M04

Course Name: Choose one for each training request
This varies based on your starting point. Most people begin with the Private Pilot Certificate – PPL. You only list the first course in your program for this initial application form.

Please choose from the following courses:
     Private Pilot Certificate or License - PPL
     Instrument Rating - IR
     Commercial Pilot Certificate or License - CPL
     Multi-engine Rating - ME

Course Description:
PRIMARY FLIGHT TRAINING INTL
Please use this course description name on this application for any of these courses: Private, Instrument, Commercial, or Multi-engine.

Aircraft Types:
     Private Pilot Certificate - Cessna 172
     Instrument Rating - Cessna 172
     Commercial Pilot Certificate - Cessna 172, Cessna 172RG
     Multi-engine Rating - Beechcraft Duchess

TSA PART 2 – STEP 7 TRAINING DETAILS

Start Date and End Date:
Example: October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009

Please note that for the purpose of this application you can specify up to a 365 day period from your start date. You should be able to complete Private, Instrument, Commercial, and Multiengine courses in six to seven months, however, we allow up to a year on this application to cover any delays. Once your program is complete your visa will be cancelled and the proper authorities notified in accordance with the regulations of the United States. At that time you are required to leave the country.

Although we expect you to finish much quicker, the times below are an estimate that should allow you to easily finish the various courses and not run out of time on your visa. You can use the times cumulatively for this application.

     Private Pilot Certificate 3.5 Months
     Instrument Rating 3.5 Months
     Commercial Pilot Certificate 4.0 Months
     Multi Engine Rating 1.0 Months
     Certified Flight Instructor 2.0 Months
     CFI Instrument 1.0 Month
     CFI Multi-engine 0.5 months

TSA PART 2 – STEP 8 REQUEST CATEGORY

Request Category:
Pleases choose “Category 3”regarding candidates who request training for aircraft with certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less. Candidates are only required to obtain alien flight school approval (AFSP) for the following training events:

1. Initial airman’s certificate
2. Instrument Rating (IR)
3. Multi-engine Rating (MEL)

These other training events on Category 3 requests are exempt: CPL, ATP, CFI, CFII, and MEI

TSA PART 2 – STEP 9 DOCUMENTS

Provide TSA with the Required Document:

1. Copy of current, unexpired passport. Candidate must provide all pages of the passport that show their name, date of birth, date of issuance, expiration date, passport number, and photograph.

2. Deliver through:
a. (Recommended) Uploading and emailing scanned documents directly into the application. Include training request ID number in the subject line. File size must be less than 5MB. Email to AFSP.Help@dhs.gov.
b. FAX: Select “I will fax a copy of this document instead of uploading.” List the training request ID number of the document. Text must be legible and the photographs clear, otherwise these will be rejected. AFSP fax numbers are (571) 227-4532 and (571) 227-4534. The AFSP Help Desk cannot confirm receipt of faxes.

TSA Part 2 – VERIFICATION OF TRAINING REQUEST

After completing your application, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will notify the flight school, Wings of the Cascades, Spirit Flight, Inc. that you have submitted your application. The flight school will verify that you have made arrangements to train at the school.

TSA Part 2 - PAYMENT TO TSA

Once TSA has verified your information with Wings of the Cascades, the flight training provider, you will receive email instructions on how to pay the $130 processing fee for each of the training requests.

TSA Part 2 – FINGER PRINTS

After paying the TSA/AFSP Application Fee for each of the training requests, the International Student of Resident Alien will be told to get fingerprinted. A very explicit email will explain the correct process.

a. There is generally a fee for the fingerprint service.
IMPORTANT! Please be sure fingerprints are submitted in the correct order. You must pay for each of the training request(s) and receive the official Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP) fingerprinting instructions by email. If this is not done in the correct order, the fingerprints will be invalid and the associated training request(s) will be cancelled. The process must then be repeated which can considerably delay training.

TSA Part 2 – DOCUMENTATION ACCEPTED

a. This indicated that the Candidate’s application, fee, and documents have been successfully processed and the AFSP is ready to process the fingerprints.
b. The Candidate is also eligible to obtain an I-20 form to apply for a visa.
c. The fingerprint cards, or electronic prints and the application fee must be received by TSA and approval for training must be given before the flight training can be started.
d. If TSA determines that the International Student or Resident Alien is a security threat, the school will be notified and the flight training, if started, will be stopped immediately.

TSA Part 2 – FINAL APPROVAL GRANTED

The candidate has been granted final approval for the training request.

1. Training must commence within 180 days of approval and finish within 365 days of approval.

2. Wings of the Cascades School Official will validate your flight training request on the TSA website once you have completed the application.

3. You will receive an email indicating your need to go online and pay on the website the $130 for each flight training request.

4. You, the flight student, will be prompted by email to submit fingerprints to TSA.
a. You may have your finger prints taken upon your arrival into the United States. School officials will provide a local facility. Cost in Redmond, Oregon is $85.00. You may be able to get fingerprints taken in your country. Go to the US Embassy website for information on your country’s requirement.
b. Students in Brazil, Canada, France, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom are able to have their fingerprints taken and submitted at the US Consulate. Specific fingerprint cards can be mailed to you if you wish to have your fingerprints taken in your home country.
c. You must provide a printed copy of the Fingerprint Instruction email from TSA, valid passport, two appropriate finger print cards provided by the school official, and a prepaid shipping envelope to the finger print collection location.
d. There will be a fee for fingerprint collection ranging from $5.00 to $85.00 depending on the location.
e. You will not be allowed to handle the fingerprint cards after they are taken. Therefore you must provide a prepaid shipping envelope addressed to:
Alien Flight School National Clearinghouse
601 Madison Street, Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314

5. Flight Students and School Officials will receive an email from TSA authorizing the start of flight training.
a. The average processing time is 3-5 business days after the submission of your fingerprints.
b. You will not be required to submit fingerprints for flight training in the future.

TSA QUESTIONS

1. If you should have questions throughout the TSA and AFSP application process:
a. Please view the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) link or you can contact the Alien Flight Student Program Help Desk at AFSP.Help@dhs.gov.
b. Call (703) 542-1222.
c. If you are an AFSP Candidate, and are in need of a new account on the system, please select the link in order to fill out an account request template.
d. If you already have an account on the TSA/ASFP (www.flightschoolcandidates.gov ) system but forgot your password, please select the link that allows you to reset your password. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Alien Flight Student Program website.

2. The AFSP will deny flight training requests from candidates who:
a. Are present in the United States illegally or
b. Who do not have an appropriate visa for flight training.
c. Fees paid for denied applications are non refundable.

If you have further questions contact:

Pam Nord - Assistant for Admissions/TSA
pamn@wingscascades.com
Wings of the Cascades Spirit Flight, Inc.
777 SE Salmon Ave.
Redmond, Oregon 97756
541-548-4801 or 1-866-856-9464 (WING)

B. TSA CLEARANCE & BACKGROUND CHECK CHECKLIST

PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE PAGE BEFORE BEGINNING THIS PROCESS. IT IS EASY IF YOU JUST FOLLOW THE STEPS OUTLINED IN THIS GUIDE.

Wings of the Cascades Spirit Flight, Inc. welcomes applications from international flight students. We have a dedicated person to assist you with your questions. After you have looked at the online application and have questions, please feel free to contact us.

All foreign flight students are required to complete a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) background check prior to the start of any flight training toward an FAA Certificate.

PART 1 COMPLETE CANDIDATE INFORMATION
1. Go to the TSA/AFSP website and set up new account.
2. Know the dates of the training duration.
3. Pay $100 processing fee on the TSA/AFSP website.
4. Submit a copy of the valid passport with the application.

PART 2 PROVIDE TRAINING DETAILS

PART 2 STEP 8 REQUEST CATEGORY 3

PART 2 STEP 9 SUBMIT DOCUMENTS TO TSA

PART 2 VERIFICATION OF TRAINING REQUEST BY THE FLIGHT SCHOOL

PART 2 PAYMENT TO TSA
1. Once your flight school has verified your training you will receive email instruction
    how to pay the $130 processing fee for each of your training requests.

PART 2 FINGERPRINTS
1. After the TSA application is paid for each training request, you will be told to get
    fingerprinted. A very explicit email will explain the correct process. Do not proceed
     with fingerprinting until you have received the email.

PART 2 DOCUMENTATION ACCEPTED
1. Approval of background check and fingerprinting must be completed and is then sent
    to the school and to you by email.

PART 2 FINAL APPROVAL GRANTED
1. Training must commence within 180 days of training approval and finish within 365
    days.