US Work Permits
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Caribbean
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
US Work Permits
Hi to all. I am almost done with my training here in the US, but I am a Caribbean national. My immediate plans after graduation will be to flight instruct for a year through an Optical Practical Training process, after which I am willing to build a career here since the industry does not look as promising back home. I have been told by some that there are companies which actually aid in coming up with a way of issuing a work permit to a foreing pilot who wishes to work within the US. I have yet to set sight on any. Can anyone on here point me in the right direction? And if so, how gruelling if any is the process itself. Responses are greatly appreciated....
Cheers!!!
Cheers!!!
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Far very far
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would really doubt there is some kind of a Visa program in which will allow non US citizens/ Residents to work as pilots. there is still thousands of furloughed airline pilots on the street.
the only way that I know of, is for you to gain your legal residency by a family member who is a US citizen or by marrying a US citizen.
Be aware of so many scam artists out there that will promise the moon. and always check with a lawyer.
best of luck.
the only way that I know of, is for you to gain your legal residency by a family member who is a US citizen or by marrying a US citizen.
Be aware of so many scam artists out there that will promise the moon. and always check with a lawyer.
best of luck.
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Us Work permit
Yes, there is a US visa called H1-b this type of visa will allow you to work in US and lead to green card
. But it is very difficult to optain, especially if you are an aviation (pilot) candidate. If you switch your career to nursing or something in the medical field it is much easyer. It is a lot of paper work for the operators, and they don't want to deal with it. I would suggest that you stay at college with your F-1 visa as long as possible and instruct and build 1000 hour before using your OPT (optional practical training). There are a bunch of 135 operators in the US that need pilots. When you are using OPT you are legall to work anywhere in US,
so no problem. Once working there for a year they might help you out with the papers. The only problem is that you will get stuck with the company for several years 3-4 years flying small airplanes before getting your green card, but it is a good experience. I have actually heard small charter and corporate companies sponser h1-b visas to pilots, but those guys knew the chief pilot pretty well. It also cost money for the company to sponser you work visa.
I'm in the same situation as you are and have done some reasearch on this issue. I think it is eayer to get married
. BUT NOT AN OPTION FOR ME. Why not try FAR EAST (asia), the market is boming there.
Take care
Amin
. But it is very difficult to optain, especially if you are an aviation (pilot) candidate. If you switch your career to nursing or something in the medical field it is much easyer. It is a lot of paper work for the operators, and they don't want to deal with it. I would suggest that you stay at college with your F-1 visa as long as possible and instruct and build 1000 hour before using your OPT (optional practical training). There are a bunch of 135 operators in the US that need pilots. When you are using OPT you are legall to work anywhere in US, so no problem. Once working there for a year they might help you out with the papers. The only problem is that you will get stuck with the company for several years 3-4 years flying small airplanes before getting your green card, but it is a good experience. I have actually heard small charter and corporate companies sponser h1-b visas to pilots, but those guys knew the chief pilot pretty well. It also cost money for the company to sponser you work visa.I'm in the same situation as you are and have done some reasearch on this issue. I think it is eayer to get married
. BUT NOT AN OPTION FOR ME. Why not try FAR EAST (asia), the market is boming there. Take care
Amin
Life's too short for ironing
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Scotland, & Maryland, USA
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I came to the US with 5000+ hours and airline experience. We worked with lawyers to try for an H-1 visa (a company was willing to employ me - this was pre-9/11) and were turned down flat, no argument, no H1 visa, not no way, no how. You have to be able to prove that no one else in the US could do that particular job. As I'm sure you are aware, there's plenty of folk who can do the flying jobs, and plenty of folk applying for them.
I ended up getting a green card through marriage (to the guy I came here with), and am now working again.
Find a good lawyer. Look into whether you are eligible to apply for the green card lottery - you can do that yourself, google it. Be prepared to fork out yet more money. If a 135 operator employs you illegally, with respect to immigration laws, don't bet on any benefits or being covered by any sort of insurance. The insurance companies will be more than happy to wash their hands of you if anything goes wrong and they find out the paperwork isn't legal.
As with the flight training, don't fork out any money to immigration companies that make unrealistic sounding promises - there's plenty of them out there just waiting to catch the eager innocents.
Sorry to be so pessimistic. Or is that realistic? Good luck with reaching your goal.
I ended up getting a green card through marriage (to the guy I came here with), and am now working again.
Find a good lawyer. Look into whether you are eligible to apply for the green card lottery - you can do that yourself, google it. Be prepared to fork out yet more money. If a 135 operator employs you illegally, with respect to immigration laws, don't bet on any benefits or being covered by any sort of insurance. The insurance companies will be more than happy to wash their hands of you if anything goes wrong and they find out the paperwork isn't legal.
As with the flight training, don't fork out any money to immigration companies that make unrealistic sounding promises - there's plenty of them out there just waiting to catch the eager innocents.
Sorry to be so pessimistic. Or is that realistic? Good luck with reaching your goal.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Caribbean
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks a mil for the responses. Fernytickles I actually have applied for the green card through the lottery process, and currently have my fingers crossed. I am engaged to a US citizen at the moment, and the talk of marriage has come up. The only problem as that mom and dad would not be too happy with the idea, due to the fact that I am still completing my degree. However there's the saying that the parents have already lived their lives, and you've got to do what you can to secure yours. So I believe I will be sitting down with the fiance pretty soon
. What's it like working in the US thus far??? Thanks!!!!!!
. What's it like working in the US thus far??? Thanks!!!!!!
Life's too short for ironing
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Scotland, & Maryland, USA
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, I was fortunate enough to find work 5 mins drive from my house, with a really nice, friendly, small company operating a nice mix of fun machines. I really landed on my feet with that one, not many jobs are as great.
Good luck with that "talk"
Good luck with that "talk"
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: US
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Unless you're married to a US citizen I wouldn't even bother trying. the amount of money you're likely to make probably won't cover the legal fees to get an H1b visa.
Plenty of low time pilots in the US. What's in demand are experienced pilots and even then most opportunities are at the regionals. There are lots of guys with 1000's of RJ PIC vying for jobs at major airlines. good companies like SWA only hire about 15-20% of people they interview.
Plenty of low time pilots in the US. What's in demand are experienced pilots and even then most opportunities are at the regionals. There are lots of guys with 1000's of RJ PIC vying for jobs at major airlines. good companies like SWA only hire about 15-20% of people they interview.
