The FAA has issued Notice 8900.731 – U.S. Agents for Service on Individuals With Foreign Addresses Who Hold or Apply for Certain Certificates, Ratings, or Authorizations.

The order describes the need that:

“Individuals must designate a U.S. agent for service within the United States in writing to the FAA in a form and manner prescribed by the Administrator, as set out in AC 3-1. Individuals designating a U.S. agent must ensure that the U.S. agent understands the requirements for receiving FAA service on behalf of the individual and is competent to perform that responsibility.”

It notes that the “issuer” [a DPE if they are processing a certificate action] is:

“If the applicant has no U.S. physical address of record on file with the FAA, the issuer will verify that the applicant is in compliance with the U.S. agent for service requirements…”

This places the onus to make sure a non-foreign address on a designee if they are processing a certificate to ensure that the applicant has complied with the requirements of having a U.S. agent for service.

Click here to see and familiarize yourself with the notice.