B1/B2 and M1

[immihelp]

Dear Sir/Madam,

My employer is building a large yacht here in USA,I am the chief engineer for the yacht, I am British and paid in Euros from a European company. I am here on a B1/B2 visa. The project will last approx 12 months, the plan is to return to Europe every 90 days for 2 weeks and then come back again to the project. So far so good. However I would like to take flying lessons while I am here, to go toward my private pilot’s license which I will likely complete in UK.

I have filled out the online TSA forms etc and they are waiting for me to pay for further application processing, but…..here it comes………..the flying school I have chosen is only able to accept foreign students with an M1 visa. Can I obtain one of these? Can it be added on to my B1/B2?? Can I apply from within the USA? Obviously my work is priority and would do nothing to jeapordise my B1/B2 visa ,but surely there must be a way to take some flying lessons at the weekends? I have tried in vain to get info from the USGOV websites but no luck so far.

Any help you can give will be much appreciated.

[immihelp]

You can't apply for M1 within US. You will have to ask the flight school to process your paperwork for M1 visa so that you can get it from Europe.

[immihelp]

Thanks for the reply, can I have a B1/B2 and an M1 running at the same time?

[immihelp]

Yes

[charbel]

You can't apply for M1 within US. You will have to ask the flight school to process your paperwork for M1 visa so that you can get it from Europe.

This is not correct. This is what I found on the USCIS website
How can I obtain F-1 or M-1 status?
If you currently hold B-1 or B-2 nonimmigrant status and would like to enroll in classes, you may apply for a change of status to F-1 or M-1, as appropriate, if:

You have not yet enrolled in classes
Your current status has not expired
You have not engaged in unauthorized employment
To change your nonimmigrant status from B-1/B-2 to F-1 or M-1, you must file an Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539), and include the required fee and documents listed in the filing instructions.

Please Note:

If you enroll in classes before USCIS approves your Form I-539, you will be ineligible to change your nonimmigrant status from B to F or M.
If you are applying to extend your B-1/B-2 stay and you have already enrolled in classes, USCIS cannot approve your B-1/B-2 extension because of the status violation.