View Full Version : Work Visas for foreign pilots
Michimax17
11th Sep 2023, 13:32
Hi,
I am Michael. Long story short: German citizen, brother is US Citizen (Greencard for me will take approx. 15 years). Looking to do the whole ATP (Airline Pilot Certificate) stuff in the US. Found a flight school in LA. Apparently they sponsor the student visa. They afterwards hire you for the 1500 hours which are necesarry. Now, my question is, after that, when i want to step into the regionals (MESA, Endeavour etc.) do they sponsor work visas? It would be kind of stupid to return to Germany after the licence and not being able to actually start working in the US...
Regards,
Michael
bafanguy
11th Sep 2023, 14:43
...my question is, after that, when i want to step into the regionals (MESA, Endeavour etc.) do they sponsor work visas?
Michael,
That's a tough question to answer since no one knows what any airline will be doing several years from now when you'd have your licenses and 1,500 hours. Any policy in place today can be dropped tomorrow.
Several US airlines have taken Australians on E3 visas but this doesn't help you at all. I also hear scuttlebutt about some taking pilots on H1b visas but airlines don't always publicly tell the whole story about what they're doing in terms of hiring.
Every regional has an email address on their website to contact their recruiting people. Write to every one of them and see if you can get any info that way. Good luck with your tough decision.
If you can figure out how to navigate this visa website, you might get some info here. This link is for Skywest as an example:
https://www.myvisajobs.com/Visa-Sponsor/Skywest-Airlines/1255100.htm
Start the greencard process though your brother. Use it as a backup plan.
The flight school will likely put you on a J1or F1 visa and after you have reached the ATP and officially finished your course of training you have to leave the country.
J1/F1 does not allow you to apply for a greencard as they are strictly student visas.
There is such a thing as an EB2 visa but you are not yet qualified for it.
https://www.aviationjobs.me/eb2-niw-pilots-green-card-usa?utm_source=banner&utm_medium=body
This means you’ll leave the US with 1500hrs and you’ll need to either do an EASA conversion or find a job with only FAA qualifications then apply for EB2 as soon as you qualify.
Alternatively look at flight training in Canada as their immigration policies are a lot friendlier.
Michimax17
11th Sep 2023, 15:40
Start the greencard process though your brother. Use it as a backup plan.
The flight school will likely put you on a J1or F1 visa and after you have reached the ATP and officially finished your course of training you have to leave the country.
J1/F1 does not allow you to apply for a greencard as they are strictly student visas.
There is such a thing as an EB2 visa but you are not yet qualified for it.
https://www.aviationjobs.me/eb2-niw-pilots-green-card-usa?utm_source=banner&utm_medium=body
This means you’ll leave the US with 1500hrs and you’ll need to either do an EASA conversion or find a job with only FAA qualifications then apply for EB2 as soon as you qualify.
Alternatively look at flight training in Canada as their immigration policies are a lot friendlier.
Michael,
That's a tough question to answer since no one knows what any airline will be doing several years from now when you'd have your licenses and 1,500 hours. Any policy in place today can be dropped tomorrow.
Several US airlines have taken Australians on E3 visas but this doesn't help you at all. I also hear scuttlebutt about some taking pilots on H1b visas but airlines don't always publicly tell the whole story about what they're doing in terms of hiring.
Every regional has an email address on their website to contact their recruiting people. Write to every one of them and see if you can get any info that way. Good luck with your tough decision.
If you can figure out how to navigate this visa website, you might get some info here. This link is for Skywest as an example:
https://www.myvisajobs.com/Visa-Sponsor/Skywest-Airlines/1255100.htm
Yeah, that's exactly the problem. I've heard that Endavour and some others did sponsor work visas. I did already start the greencard process though, but workwise you are right, no one can tell. I will try my luck and write some regionals for a little bit of info. It would really be stupid to finish the 1500 hours and leaving the country. I won't be 23 anyways since I am 18 right now...
I am wondering, why are they even doing flight schools for International students when they can't work afterwards anyways..
bafanguy
11th Sep 2023, 16:18
I am wondering, why are they even doing flight schools for International students when they can't work afterwards anyways..
They want your money.
Michimax17
11th Sep 2023, 16:45
They want your money.
yeah... anyways, so you'd recommend me rather do the flight school here in Europe somewhere and later convert maybe?
ahwalk01
11th Sep 2023, 18:53
Lets get some things correct here. The US trains the majority of the world's pilots from China to the EU. They even allow EASA training on US soil. It's cheaper and faster.
What do FAA license holders get in Europe? Nothing. Seems fair.
bafanguy
11th Sep 2023, 19:14
yeah... anyways, so you'd recommend me rather do the flight school here in Europe somewhere and later convert maybe?
Michael,
ahwalk01 is correct. And many if not most foreign pilots trained in the US return to their home country and do whatever license magic is required to fly at home.
I'd hesitate to tell you what to do but it is cheaper and faster to train here. Those factors may not be critical for you.
It would really be stupid to finish the 1500 hours and leaving the country.
Why?
The purpose is to provide you with flight training and additional experience which you will gain as a flight instructor, sounds like a job to meZ
It gets you 1250-1300 hrs more then you would get while training in Europe.
There is no arrangement for US flight students to train in Europa then gain 1300 hrs of additional experience so maybe you need to tone it down with the arrogance and entitlement a little bit.
It’s an option for flight training as is Canada, South Africa and Poland.
So if you have any better ideas by all means share them here.
so you'd recommend me rather do the flight school here in Europe somewhere and later convert maybe?
No.
FAA ~> EASA is cheaper option.
EASA ~> FAA is more expensive option.