Getting a job on an FAA license, non citizen, and changing EASA to FAA
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Getting a job on an FAA license, non citizen, and changing EASA to FAA
Hi, im currently PPL/IMC/Night with 120+ hours doing ATPL's, just like any other.. and am curious to know, if i were to go ahead and get my piggyback, and then CPL/IR/ATP in the states under the FAA, can i get a job? Or will i need to be a resident of the US?
Basically whats involved!
I have longed to move to the US, and am hoping that i can get some more info on whats involved in converting my PPL, and then gaining the rest of the quals in the states.
Apologies if this has been mentioned over and over!
Kind Regards
Tom G
Basically whats involved!
I have longed to move to the US, and am hoping that i can get some more info on whats involved in converting my PPL, and then gaining the rest of the quals in the states.
Apologies if this has been mentioned over and over!
Kind Regards
Tom G
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
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Getting a job on an FAA license, non citizen, and changing EASA to FAA
As has been said before... The crux of the matter is getting the right to live and work in the States. I can almost categorically guarantee that being a pilot will not enable you to get a work visa.
So unless you have family there who can sponsor you, or a fiancée who can do the same, or another line of work possibly backed up by a degree that'll get you there (on a non-immigrant visa), you're screwed. Or maybe you have $1 million USD to invest, or can enter the Green Card Lottery (not if you're a Brit, they don't like us).
I know, as I tried getting a flight school to sponsor me, but it was a non starter due to there already being enough US citizens to fill the job. Our immigration lawyer basically said it might work, but would be a bit "dodgy", the flight school would need to fund it, and I'd be committed to them once I got there. So there may be workable options, or anything is possible with the right lawyer and funds behind you, but the odds are stacked against you. That said, people like Arnold Schwarzenegger overstayed their visa back in the day, and loads of people still do and get away with it. They just wait until they have visa amnesties and pay a fine to stay on. As long as you don't commit any felonies, you might get away with blending into society, paying taxes etc, and staying there. Probably not in a state that's keen on illegal immigration like Cali or Arizona, but somewhere up north out in the sticks you might get away with it. There won't be any airline jobs without the proper paperwork of having a green card or citizenship anyway, so you'll be stuck doing casual work and keeping a low profile. Just don't leave or you'll never be allowed back in. Plus, any funny business and you'll be looking at a 10 year ban on re-entry, so should you want to move there legally, you'll have burned your bridges.
As it stands, my father is now a US citizen (re-married and emigrated after my mother passed away) and is in the process of sponsoring me. He moved there in 2009, filed for me in 2011 and I'm still waiting on news. We reckon another 5-10 years until I can emigrate. But, I'm happy we're doing it all legally, however frustrating and time consuming it is.
There may be other options (there certainly were in the past) where you may be able to do a "zero to hero" course from scratch with an airline academy, so Private thru to CFI/II/MEI and they'll be able to knock up a work visa based on the amount of time you spent training. As far as I know you're not allowed any previous flying experience, as the course must be full-time from scratch to qualify.
Do your research, ask around. Get on match.com and find a yank bird.
So unless you have family there who can sponsor you, or a fiancée who can do the same, or another line of work possibly backed up by a degree that'll get you there (on a non-immigrant visa), you're screwed. Or maybe you have $1 million USD to invest, or can enter the Green Card Lottery (not if you're a Brit, they don't like us).
I know, as I tried getting a flight school to sponsor me, but it was a non starter due to there already being enough US citizens to fill the job. Our immigration lawyer basically said it might work, but would be a bit "dodgy", the flight school would need to fund it, and I'd be committed to them once I got there. So there may be workable options, or anything is possible with the right lawyer and funds behind you, but the odds are stacked against you. That said, people like Arnold Schwarzenegger overstayed their visa back in the day, and loads of people still do and get away with it. They just wait until they have visa amnesties and pay a fine to stay on. As long as you don't commit any felonies, you might get away with blending into society, paying taxes etc, and staying there. Probably not in a state that's keen on illegal immigration like Cali or Arizona, but somewhere up north out in the sticks you might get away with it. There won't be any airline jobs without the proper paperwork of having a green card or citizenship anyway, so you'll be stuck doing casual work and keeping a low profile. Just don't leave or you'll never be allowed back in. Plus, any funny business and you'll be looking at a 10 year ban on re-entry, so should you want to move there legally, you'll have burned your bridges.
As it stands, my father is now a US citizen (re-married and emigrated after my mother passed away) and is in the process of sponsoring me. He moved there in 2009, filed for me in 2011 and I'm still waiting on news. We reckon another 5-10 years until I can emigrate. But, I'm happy we're doing it all legally, however frustrating and time consuming it is.
There may be other options (there certainly were in the past) where you may be able to do a "zero to hero" course from scratch with an airline academy, so Private thru to CFI/II/MEI and they'll be able to knock up a work visa based on the amount of time you spent training. As far as I know you're not allowed any previous flying experience, as the course must be full-time from scratch to qualify.
Do your research, ask around. Get on match.com and find a yank bird.
