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My life is currently up in the air and I am planning on going from here in Europe to the States in the summertime. I was originally thinking of taking my training out here but now I have been considering just staying out in the states and training there. My concern is that if I complete my training in the EU that there won't be any jobs for me, especially since I don't speak any other European languages and don't have an EU passport. Would there be more opportunities for low time pilots in the states? Maybe I could find a job to build be some hours and then come back to Europe when I am a more desirable candidate? Thoughts? Does anybody know of the conversion process of a PPL and ratings and the frozen ATPL and CPL? I know more pilots generally convert to FAA from EASA, how does it work in reverse? Sorry for all the random questions but I have no other source of guidance on this one.

Thanks!

It all depends on where you can work. Do you have a US Passport or Green Card? If not can you get one? Same question with a European Country Passport?
Which passport do you hold?
Until we know where you can work, it is impossible to offer any advice.

Sorry I forgot to mention that I am a US citizen with a US passport, I don't currently have right to work in the EU and was originally planning on staying with the student visa obtained when starting pilot training.

Well there is your answer, there are a lot of Europeans who would quite happily trade in their European/Uk passport for a US one, the salaries in the states are far superior to Europe.

Regarding anything else, why would you want to train in Europe, Florida has some of the best weather all year round.

If you do try to stay in Europe once you have gained your license on a Student Visa, the first time you operate out of the country and have to show your passport, you will find you're on a one-way ticket home. Of course, thats assuming you can get a job in the first place.

What the actual? You have a US passport - In this economy that's worth more than an EASA ATPL with 3000 hours of heavy jet time. You can literally write your own ticket in the US at the moment.
Do all your training in the US and you will be flying jets in 2-3 years.

It seems to me from over here that the US economy is in a bad state, and it doesn't seem to be getting better anytime soon. I know general aviation is biggest in the states, but will this recession hurt my employment chances? What changes have happened due to this crisis? Will aviation stay strong compared to other markets?

But what makes you think European economy is in a better shape?
Europe is struggling with inflation, immigrant crisis, also stagnant economies, ecogreen agenda which is only pushing the aviation market down the drain...

Besides, salaries and benefits in Europe are lower compared to the US and there's a high probability of having to pay your initial type rating (since nowadays very few airlines are sponsoring their candidates initial training).

You should go with your gut feeling. Fast food workers are always in high demand.

Again, it all depends where you can legally work.

Working on a student visa in Europe for example, will end badly and most likely stop you travelling there, which would be awkward to explain at an airline interview in the USA, which could well stop you having a career in Aviation, but I hear Wendys are always hiring or maybe Chik-fil-A, of course they wont offer you the career you want

But hey its your life, without the right to work in Europe at an interview they will ask for proof, hint a Student Visa is not acceptable, it will all but render your EASA or UK Licence useless, why waste the money

Okay. I'm looking into training in the states now, and wow, prices are skyrocketing. I did notice some differences in the training syllabus, in Europe the schools have you take ATPL theory right after you get your PPL, but I don't see anything like that in the states. How do you get your ATPL out there? Do you just get a CPL that becomes an ATPL at 1500 hours?

In Europe, your ATPL theory exams cover the CPL and the IR. You're issued with a CPL when you pass that flight/skills test. Then you get a job and accrue hours. Once you have 1500 hours (with various break downs of night etc) AND you're flying a CS-25 EASA (similar to the FAR 25), then you do the ATPL skills test during the sim programme. (I think you need to be 21years old before you can do the ATPL skills test)

The US does the PPL - CPL - ATPL theory exams separately. You need to be 23 before you can be issued an ATP licence in the US. I'd spend a bit of time here