When operating a US station by remote control from outside the country, what license is required of the control operator?

When you operate a US-licensed amateur station via remote control, you are the control operator of that US station. According to FCC Part 97 rules, the control operator of any US station must hold a valid US amateur radio license, regardless of where they are physically located. Even if you are sitting in a foreign country sending commands over the internet to a transmitter located in the United States, the transmission itself originates in the US. Therefore, a US operator/primary station license is fully sufficient and strictly required. Distractors often trick test-takers into thinking a special remote permit is needed or that a foreign license is acceptable, but the FCC does not issue special remote station permits, and foreign licenses do not authorize control of a US-based station.