Re:
Hi OZ pilot
I had some experience with flying in the United States 2 yrs ago. I finished my Commercial and Instructors rating in my home country (South Africa) and then went over to "convert" my license. This was all before 911 so my initial steps started out with getting an FAA Pvt based on my South African CPL. It then took me about 3 months to finally obtain my FAA Instrument and Single Engine Commercial during a time in which I thought I had to re-learn everything about flying. It was completely different to what I had been used to in SA and the full array of 300 hrs total time I had didnt make it easier either. Anyway, 8 after getting my FAA CPL I obtained my CFI and later CFII. I started getting more accustomed to flying in the US and really liked it. I married my American girlfriend whom I had been dating for 2 yrs up til that point and in short time (I was lucky) obtained my work permit and greencard).
Within a month of getting my greencard, 911 hit hard and it was soon clear that things weren't too bright for aviation in the near future in the US. I decided to head home to South Africa for the time it would take things to shape up again in the US and landed a job within a week of getting home. Its been two years since I have left the US and I must honestly say that there are days when I thought I hadn't. Much good and bad have come from the descision.
The bad bart: My wife decided to head back to her home country which left me with conditional permanent residence which expired last year. So now, having some decent hours to go market myself back in the US again, I cant do so.
The good part: I have flown Cessna Caravans, C404's and recently landed a permanent job flying ATRs for a good company. I'm enjoying life but missing the US terribly much.
I often wonder if I would be flying in a regional by now had I stayed in the US while biting the bullet. Probably but then again, who knows for sure. I decided to take a chance and wait for the rough waters to calm down before going back but in the process, kinda locked myself out.
My advice to you is to stay in OZ to build at least 1500hrs. In the meantime, play the yearly DV lottery (greencard lotter) if you are elligible as an OZ citizen. There are only a handful of ways to get US residence and the lottery and marriage to a US citizen are pretty much your only options. When you get your 1500hrs and you are able to go to the US and obtain residence, you'll at least meet the FAA Part 135 minimums and be able to fly for a charter company if you dont get hired by a regional. Oh and yes, you'll DEFINATELY have to get some experience flying around in the US before heading for an airline. It's different in many ways to most ICAO state members but I mean it in a good way.
Maybe we'll meet in the future somewhere in the US. I certainly haven't given up home in trying to get back there.
Good luck!