I have recently received emails back from schools in the NYC area saying that there are more jobs than pilots in the US, and that if you are an instructor you can get work very easy. Is that true or am I getting the big sell?

I have one obstacle at the moment The VISA.
I am Australian with Aussie CPL Instructor rating and 550TT, a degree in aviation and a teaching diploma.
I have looked at the National Visa Services Green Card Lottery, is that a waste of time?

All I want to do is get to the US and work as an Instructor. Here in Australia you have to work like a dog to find students and I'd be lucky to fly 4 hours a week. Not enough for me.

If ANY one can give me a clearer picture I would appreciate it I'm becoming frustrated with Australia.

No visa, no work. See other posts on this topic.

Yes, I worked there for the last 2 years, they are dying for pilots. Advancement from CFI to charter to commuter to airline is very fast now.

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It's all fun and games 'til someone gets poked in the eye.

very difficult to get the old green card!!!!!

AV8..et al...consider the visa problem first.

Numerous aviation colleges and acadamies can - and will - sponsor your application for a work permit....provided you work for them as an instructor (which is what you suggest).

Airlines...as you have seen so often on thses pages...WILL NOT sponsor your application for a work permit.

Most of the colleges/acadmies will be able to get you enrolled as a student with them (which you will need to be..read on) and then the visa - I think it is a J1 but don't quote me on that - will allow you to work IN THE SAME INDUSTRY for a couple of years after that. Yeah, work in the USA as a visa holding flying instructor.

Another visa that may be applicable TO YOU (with the qualifications you suggest you have) would be the H1..."special skills visa" - the ideal to get this is a degree level qualification OR EQUIVALENT LOG BOOK EXPERIENCE).

This, again, would allow you to become a flying instructor.

Note however, if you haven't already heard from elsewhere, that to instruct (properly) in the USA you will have to gain a full FAA CPL with I/R and then do the three instructor ratings..."flight instructor", "instrument instructor" and (if you want it) "Multi engine instructor".

Are you prepared to put all the time, money and effort into getting these qualifications ...... and.....what are you planning to do when your visa expires and you have to stop working in the USA.

It is strongly rumoured - I say again, RUMOURED - that the Immigration service will NOT ALLOW an airline to hire a non resident (resident being either a US citizen or the holder of a full green card).

Any of this help? E-mail if you have more questions.

I know you mean well, Squeakmail, but unfortunately, there is no level of flying experience in and of itself that is considered equivalent to a degree.

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Anybody out after 2 AM is either a turd, a cop or a pilot. Or any combination of the three!

I say you go over on ya sponsorship visa as an instructor, find a nice little american girl, do the Las Vegas drive-thru wedding thing, then problem solved. Bit cras, but an idea? :)

Be careful. The INS is akin to the CAA (UK) when it comes to the amount of power they have. They do not recognise a 'sham" wedding and if found to be, will immediately revoke any visa and possibly deport you.

I know a french pilot, just out of OATS, that he get is green card.
He did apply for a few months before, and specify in is application that it was pilot.
May be, it is the best way, if not may be, you should try the special agency of attorney how fight for you, until you get your green card, I know that is working well, but you need money ( hey, its the states ).

Anyway good luck to you, and yes the pilot market is good.

Mirage

Thanks for the advice. Now I need some suggestions. What are the colleges and acadamies that I might have a chance at sponsorship. How much could I expect to pay to convert my licence to FAA standards? How long will it take? What exactly is the deal with the sponsorship?

Does any one have a american sister who wants to marry a good lookin Aussie? :)

So many questions, so little time.

HELP !!

I think everyone means well with all of the above comments, but the majority of them are incorrect or only half correct. When it comes to visa's and permanent immigration into the US, this is a very complex matter. I would even recommend against contacting and paying an immigration lawyer, as many of them have no idea of the current immigration laws and/or how to interpret and use them. I used to live in the USA many years ago and have wanted to go back ever since. I have since gathered enormous amounts of information and knowledge of immigration laws. Even INS themselves don't always know the laws, or want to know them. Not long ago, they literally told one of my American friends 'we can't keep up with all the law changes, it is up to you to show where this is written, and we'll get it done for you'.

I think the most important thing to say here is that there is a big difference between non-immigrant visas, which are temporary, and a greencard which is a permanent (immigrant) resident visa. If you are a pilot, you can forget about H1A, H1B, H2A or H2B visas. The H2 category is for advanced degree holders only. The H1 category is for non degree holders, with the additional requirement to go through labour certification which means a company has to proof that no other American is willing or is able to take the position you want. This is basically impossible, unless you have a profession that is in short supply. But for these professions, special category visa quota have been allocated (like nurses and doctors). The J1 visa everyone talks about has a lot of disadvantages. One is that very few schools are allowed to issue them, and secondly they are only valid for 2 years and after this period you MUST go back to your home country and you CANNOT apply for another type of visa in the USA until you have fulfulled the 'home residency'' requirements, which means you have to go back home for 2 years or more.

My advice to all these wishful thinkers is to stay away from the USA if you are a pilot, or training pilot unless you can find a nice American (of which there are many) that you REALLY WANT to marry. As mentioned though above, INS is always very suspicious of these marriages and you must have true intentions. Telling lies to INS may cause you to be banned from the USA for 10 years (they have gotten tougher, as it used to be 5 years).

Even good immigration lawyers (never met one yet) cannot do anything more than the law permits them to. Even if they 'fight for you', this will not get you anywhere. ALSO, always ignore people's comments and 'helpful hints' that a 'friend of a friend etc etc got a greencard just by filling in an application form etc etc etc' In many cases I decided to actually check out these stories, and they were always based on wrong assumptions and wrong information. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS or holes in the law.

Everything Commanche says is true, but he is wrong about the J1 visa. You will have to return to your home country after the two year period UNLESS the money used to finance your course is your own. If the course is in part or wholly funded by your own government (loans), then the 2 year residency rule applies. Even then, it is possible to get a wavier for this. It is also possible to extend the J1, but only for 6 months I believe. You can work anywhere in the USA with a J1. Some schools may claim it is only good for their school.

I suggest you look closely at the INS website:
www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/index.htm (http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/index.htm)

britavia,I couldn't get your USGOV page up to read,but I understand there's a bill in congress at this time to raise the border,so's to speak,to allow qualified pilots in.I believe qualified means 'endorsed/or type rated'on heavier than light twin?I could be wrong but this is the info being circulated in Canada!

There are plenty of flight Instructor jobs around. But as with all things, it depends where you end up. I would not suggest New England or the Pacific Northwest at all if you are comming on a 2 year work deal. Flying is busy in the Summer in New England. Just to short to make anykind of reasonable living. The best places to instruct is Az Texas and Florida. Just to give you an Idea of what is going on, I applied for a Job in South East Alaska, I was hired two days after sending a resume. Yep there are jobs but like every thing else, if you don't have the flight time or a right to work in the US, you are screwed. I know that where I'm going, they will be short pilots for the whole summer and they offered me a full time 12mo a year job with medical dental, retirement and housing. They will pay for my travel expenses too. I never had a problem with Pilots coming here to fly, after all one of my first jobs was teaching Forigen borm students to fly. I don't think they will ever open the door's to just come and go, what will happen is that some insurance req. Min. flight times will be reduced. At present, most every body I know that operates twin engine airplanes have no trouble filling the seats. I know one company here in NE that is aways looking for pilots. Can't keep guys for more that a couple of months. Reason, they pay $20,000.00 a year to start flying a EMB-110 and you end up in Buffelo, NY or Boston, MA. You can just get by on that if you are single. Oh and You need 2500 hours 500 in twins and an ATP. Guys go to the Regionals as fast as they can. The longest guy they had working was my brother, he was number one on the list in 8 months. Stayed till about a month ago, and is with US-Jet now. Me I just like the bush.

Hey AV8, go to the homepage of the State of Alaska. Since you are a School teacher, They may sponsor you if you are willing to teach school in the Bush. If you are willing to put up with teaching school in the bush, this would be a way for you to get here and get you US certification. Once you finish your contract with the State of Alaska, you can get a flying job. Oh most of the flying is seasonal in nature, so when you have summer's off you could fly. Try this http://www.state.ak.us/ This may be what you need.

m&v I have just been in the USA to convert my ATPL/A to the FAA ATP, and for the issue of my
visa I followed the instructions of the us embassy in London from the following web site:
a. non-immigrant visa www.usembassy.org.uk/uknivn.html, (http://www.usembassy.org.uk/uknivn.html,)
b. immigrants visa is www.usembassy.org.uk/ukimvisa.html (http://www.usembassy.org.uk/ukimvisa.html)

I hope that this will help you to clarify many points. All the best

Britavia is correct about the possibility of obtaining a waiver for the home residency requirement. I did not mention it in order not to complicate matters. Mostly, the money charged for training by schools that can issue J1 visas is much higher than non-J1 schools. Just a thought. American Flyers in Florida can issue J1 visas and from what I have seen they are a good school. Their hourly rates, especially for the twins, are very high though.

m&v:

It does work, I've just checked it again. As for American Flyers, I did my Comm/multi/inst add-on there and yes, it is expensive, but somewhat cheaper than Comair and other similar ones.