US flight instruction / visa requirements
Sorry to bring this old problem up again but I seem to have hit a brick wall. I'm a British citizen with a frozen ATPL and was looking to build up some hours by becoming a flight instructor in the US. I was hopefully going to enroll with one of the big US flight training schools, who help sort out the M1 or J1 visa required, gain the FAA CPL and all FI ratings required and instruct in the US until my visa expired. However, I have been told that this is not possible as I cannot gain a US visa as I already hold a foreign CPL and therefore would not be classed as a student pilot.
I've spoken to the big flight schools eg, Flight Safety and Sierra Academy and they do seem to think that there maybe a way around this problem but dont have a clue what that would be nor do they seem very interested in helping me find one.
Does any one know how someone with a UK CPL could get to instruct in the US?, I find it hard to believe that anyone with a CPL other than an FAA CPL cannot get a visa in the US, not even to train.
I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has gone through the US training system or is in a similar position as me.
Many thanks.