Hi!
Yes, the US immigration system is totally screwed.
Yes, there is a massive shortage of pilots developing in the US. A number of airlines are increasing pay and giving the pilots better contracts to keep them. The ones that don't are losing pilots left and right, because there's so many jobs. Mesa, one of the worst US airlines (they fly feed for United, Delta and US Air), was losing about 70 pilots per month. In the first two weeks of NOV, they lost over 80!
cliff
KYIP