Australian pilots can work for US regionals.
Looking at a completely different approach here.
I remember looking into doing CFI training in the US back in 2017 when I was just getting started as I was having a tough time scoring the first job and wanted to explore all options. I did end up getting that first job not long after so never pursued it any further, but now am looking back into it again, for no other reason than I initially got into this line of work for the adventures it could lead to. I was in the group of future XJT new hires that received the letter of doom last September.
A few schools do still offer training through the F-1 visa program, which allows you up to 2 years (maximum) of paid work in the US, and only the first 11.5 months has to be tied to the school you did your training at. My understanding is in the second 12 month period you apply for the Optional Practical Training (OPT) and once authorization has been received, you are now "authorized to work in the United States" and are not tied to the company you did the training with.
Only question is what (if any) visa options there would be available to be able to work past this second 12 month period. Aside from the fact that maybe a couple of regionals might be hiring e3's again by this time, in which case you'd have been better off doing your instructor rating here. It would be nothing more than a high risk adventure exercise suited to young players Just thinking out loud.
Edit: and after a little more digging I've discovered the E2 investment visa. If you have $30-40k on hand to shell out for 6 months of instructor rating training, then if you can get a bit more together you might have a shot at an E2 visa. They generally look for a $100k investment but it can be done with $50k. If you've got any real estate on hand, highly likely that you're sitting on some nice equity right about now. If you're hell bent on making it in the US, could be an option?
I remember looking into doing CFI training in the US back in 2017 when I was just getting started as I was having a tough time scoring the first job and wanted to explore all options. I did end up getting that first job not long after so never pursued it any further, but now am looking back into it again, for no other reason than I initially got into this line of work for the adventures it could lead to. I was in the group of future XJT new hires that received the letter of doom last September.
A few schools do still offer training through the F-1 visa program, which allows you up to 2 years (maximum) of paid work in the US, and only the first 11.5 months has to be tied to the school you did your training at. My understanding is in the second 12 month period you apply for the Optional Practical Training (OPT) and once authorization has been received, you are now "authorized to work in the United States" and are not tied to the company you did the training with.
Only question is what (if any) visa options there would be available to be able to work past this second 12 month period. Aside from the fact that maybe a couple of regionals might be hiring e3's again by this time, in which case you'd have been better off doing your instructor rating here. It would be nothing more than a high risk adventure exercise suited to young players Just thinking out loud.
Edit: and after a little more digging I've discovered the E2 investment visa. If you have $30-40k on hand to shell out for 6 months of instructor rating training, then if you can get a bit more together you might have a shot at an E2 visa. They generally look for a $100k investment but it can be done with $50k. If you've got any real estate on hand, highly likely that you're sitting on some nice equity right about now. If you're hell bent on making it in the US, could be an option?
Last edited by plotplot; 15th May 2021 at 17:42.
Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.
Yes but the F-1 visa is issued for 18 months. Education that you undertake must go for atleast 6.5 months, the remaining 11.5 months can be CPT (curricular practial training) which can be employed as a CFI by the school you trained at for those 11.5 months. Effectively giving you 23 months of work. As I said, only the second lot of 12 months allows you to roam freely.
Ok if what the school is telling you is true, just remember you need an EAD to work. EAD applications are taking 7 months to process now. Even at their quickest they take 4 months. No EAD no work. That's a lot of sitting around.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/...ger-wait-times
And that's before covid.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/...ger-wait-times
And that's before covid.
I didn't see any mention of 7 months in that article. 5 months in rare cases but still 100-120 days being the norm not the exception.
Latest from USCIS in February this year was 12-week wait times. Given that you can apply 90 days before needing it, I wouldn't anticipate that being an issue.
Latest from USCIS in February this year was 12-week wait times. Given that you can apply 90 days before needing it, I wouldn't anticipate that being an issue.
I didn't see any mention of 7 months in that article. 5 months in rare cases but still 100-120 days being the norm not the exception.
Latest from USCIS in February this year was 12-week wait times. Given that you can apply 90 days before needing it, I wouldn't anticipate that being an issue.
Latest from USCIS in February this year was 12-week wait times. Given that you can apply 90 days before needing it, I wouldn't anticipate that being an issue.
https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/
Go to "read all lines" and the last line states 4-9 months process time. Nobody gets it in 4 months.
I live in the USA. I know foreign students that have waited 9 months for a Social security number during CoVID. Things are getting better but Trump completely screwed the USCIS during his time in office. Everything takes much longer than normal now.
Just be aware that what the flying schools here tell you and what the reality is can be very different. You may get lucky you may not.
Also, how are you going to drag a CASA CPL//IR to a FAA CPL/IR +CFI out to 6.5 months? That will take maybe 8-12 weeks at the absolute most.
A more recent article
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.natlawreview.com/article/delays-uscis-affecting-f-1-students-work-authorization%3famp
Last edited by Climb150; 16th May 2021 at 02:26.
So you apply 90 days before you need it, then have to wait an extra few months afterwards before you can work. You had enough money to support yourself for 6.5 months without work while you studied, a few more more months between receiving the EAD and exercising your OPT is not going to kill you. A lot of sitting around? What's the rush?
If you're done trying to tear this apart we can move on.
because it's not an FAA CPL/IR +CFI, it's an FAA CPL/IR +CFI, +CFII, +MEI. Basair take 16 weeks to do the bare minimum here, it would not be hard to drag that out to 6 months.
So you apply 90 days before you need it, then have to wait an extra few months afterwards before you can work. You had enough money to support yourself for 6.5 months without work while you studied, a few more more months between receiving the EAD and exercising your OPT is not going to kill you. A lot of sitting around? What's the rush?
If you're done trying to tear this apart we can move on.
So you apply 90 days before you need it, then have to wait an extra few months afterwards before you can work. You had enough money to support yourself for 6.5 months without work while you studied, a few more more months between receiving the EAD and exercising your OPT is not going to kill you. A lot of sitting around? What's the rush?
If you're done trying to tear this apart we can move on.
I don't know this for a fact, but I heard today that GoJet has been in contact with some Aussies. Might be a good opportunity to get some longevity match for those guys that came from ExpressJet.
There's nothing I can see on their careers page about E3s, but it probably can't hurt to ask.
Good luck y'all.
There's nothing I can see on their careers page about E3s, but it probably can't hurt to ask.
Good luck y'all.
Yes, apply, apply, apply ! It requires nothing more than your time and the ability to deal with some tedium. And the price is right: free.
You never know what's percolating behind the airline HR curtain.
Can confirm for those interested that I got an email from Gojet- saying they where taking E3, I don't think I'll go back over, but good luck to all you guys and gals that give it a go!
Would you or Skippy69 happen to know where the XJT Aussie refugees went after the company shut down ? It's been a long dry spell at the moment.
Has anyone managed to get an E-3 visa interview lately? I've been trying since November in South Africa but my appointment keeps getting cancelled. I would be prepared to go to a different country if need be. Very frustrating.
I don't know of anywhere that anyone went en masse, but I think regional E3 hiring is going to kick off in a big way over the summer.
Our guys have been going to Costa Rica for E3 interviews atm.
Flying schools in the USA didn't slow down that much so there are now hundreds of 1500 hour CFI's begging for a job. Also plenty of people flying part 135 freight and charter now looking for a regional jet job. The supply will run out eventually but some Regionals still aren't even recruiting yet. Once momentum returns and the pool rely dries up, then you will see some E3 opportunity is suspect.
I think maybe only Gojet and possibly Commutair will take E3s going forward.
Flying schools in the USA didn't slow down that much so there are now hundreds of 1500 hour CFI's begging for a job. Also plenty of people flying part 135 freight and charter now looking for a regional jet job. The supply will run out eventually but some Regionals still aren't even recruiting yet. Once momentum returns and the pool rely dries up, then you will see some E3 opportunity is suspect.
Flying schools in the USA didn't slow down that much so there are now hundreds of 1500 hour CFI's begging for a job. Also plenty of people flying part 135 freight and charter now looking for a regional jet job. The supply will run out eventually but some Regionals still aren't even recruiting yet. Once momentum returns and the pool rely dries up, then you will see some E3 opportunity is suspect.
I think maybe only Gojet and possibly Commutair will take E3s going forward.
Flying schools in the USA didn't slow down that much so there are now hundreds of 1500 hour CFI's begging for a job. Also plenty of people flying part 135 freight and charter now looking for a regional jet job. The supply will run out eventually but some Regionals still aren't even recruiting yet. Once momentum returns and the pool rely dries up, then you will see some E3 opportunity is suspect.
Flying schools in the USA didn't slow down that much so there are now hundreds of 1500 hour CFI's begging for a job. Also plenty of people flying part 135 freight and charter now looking for a regional jet job. The supply will run out eventually but some Regionals still aren't even recruiting yet. Once momentum returns and the pool rely dries up, then you will see some E3 opportunity is suspect.
It's a puzzle. Time will tell...
There's only been rumbles of hiring starting up until about a few weeks ago. But now, classes have been announced and are starting at both the regional level and majors. UA just took 6 of our LCPs and several other training Dept pilots. The 3 big E3 employers (GoJet, Mesa and CommutAir) are already hiring, with CommutAir hiring close to 60/month, and GoJet confirmed to have approached E3 applicants.
The well of talent to draw from is already starting to run low, as not only will those 3 lose potential newhire talent from the pool to other carriers, but they are all about to suffer some significant attrition. E3s will most likely be back on the table soonest for those who already have their ATP, but I don't think it'll be long after before everyone else gets the invite.
The growing shortage is evidenced by the fact that several regionals are either paying for ATP CTP courses, offering signing bonuses again, or offering longevity match.
Watch this space, because it's going to heat up quicker than what most expect it will.
The well of talent to draw from is already starting to run low, as not only will those 3 lose potential newhire talent from the pool to other carriers, but they are all about to suffer some significant attrition. E3s will most likely be back on the table soonest for those who already have their ATP, but I don't think it'll be long after before everyone else gets the invite.
The growing shortage is evidenced by the fact that several regionals are either paying for ATP CTP courses, offering signing bonuses again, or offering longevity match.
Watch this space, because it's going to heat up quicker than what most expect it will.
CommutAir has restarted hiring Aussies. You must be a Aus citizen and meet E3 visa requirements.
Good luck to anyone who wants to come over and try their hand. The water is warm.
Good luck to anyone who wants to come over and try their hand. The water is warm.