i4ig writes: I'm 38 and have just got my J1 visa to start training in the US - just 3 weeks to go before I leave! I'm also taking my wife and kids.
I hope your going all the way thats through CFI, or are you doing one of the JAR courses.
Anyway I know of a few newbies who come from Europe on a visa and finish up their school before the visa expires. They (depending on the visa) are allowed to work in the U.S. until it expires.....
Check on it as I dont know what visa allows this. I do know that
www.papillon.com has hired a few in the past and they went home with some money and a few hundred hours in AS-350/EC-130s