Foreign pilots now allowed to apply for a Green Card?

[FourStripes]

Effective November 1, 2023

[LTCTerry]

The interpreters risked their life to help the US Military. Keeping them from being murdered is not such a bad reward.

[CL605driver]

Reading this all with great interest.

Sooo, Im 50, had an extensive career in business aviation and am an airline captain nowadays.
10.000 hours+, 3000 hours PIC A320/B737.

If I manage to get the EB-2 visa I have to fly as a FO for at least a 1000 hours.
What is is the better option, go for a major airline and hope to upgrade in a year and a half? PIC for a 135 on a CRJ or back into business aviation?.

And regarding the business aviation part, I don't want to be on standby the whole time and have a great income (I know )

Quality of life thing and such...

What's the feedback here?

[FourStripes]

Originally Posted by CL605driver

Reading this all with great interest.

Sooo, Im 50, had an extensive career in business aviation and am an airline captain nowadays.
10.000 hours+, 3000 hours PIC A320/B737.

If I manage to get the EB-2 visa I have to fly as a FO for at least a 1000 hours.
What is is the better option, go for a major airline and hope to upgrade in a year and a half? PIC for a 135 on a CRJ or back into business aviation?.

And regarding the business aviation part, I don't want to be on standby the whole time and have a great income (I know )

Quality of life thing and such...

What's the feedback here?

Some points to consider:

1. Assuming you send in your packet today. It will take you 24 months to actually have the visa in your passport. Are you willing to wait that long?
2. If you are focused on this endeavor will you write your own case or will you seek a good immigration lawyer?
3. Because of Part 121.436 PIC upgrade can only be possible after 1000 hours with a 121 ops carrier. The workaround is go Part 135 PIC as soon as you land Stateside.
4. Lots of Part 91 jobs as well, you also need to have a good network if you are a bit picky about QOL.
5. Do you have any FAA certificates?

[Sunrig]

Originally Posted by CL605driver

Reading this all with great interest.

Sooo, Im 50, had an extensive career in business aviation and am an airline captain nowadays.
10.000 hours+, 3000 hours PIC A320/B737.

If I manage to get the EB-2 visa I have to fly as a FO for at least a 1000 hours.
What is is the better option, go for a major airline and hope to upgrade in a year and a half? PIC for a 135 on a CRJ or back into business aviation?.

And regarding the business aviation part, I don't want to be on standby the whole time and have a great income (I know )

Quality of life thing and such...

What's the feedback here?

Since you mentioned QOL and not wanting to be on reserve/ standby….
I wouldn’t recommend taking the first available upgrade at an airline then. The US are very different when it comes to scheduling. It’s all seniority based. Life as a junior Captain is for most people not something that is desirable.
Usually your life will be better in the right seat. That’s why you see so many “old” FOs here. You will have more days off, weekends off, get your vacation when you want to and have the opportunity to make double pay by getting premium trips. That basically results in similar pay to a Captain but with way better QOL. I can’t speak for corporate or business aviation. Good luck. I don’t regret the move.

[migrant]

Hi Everyone!

I’m excited to share that my EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) petition has been approved! 🎉

This journey was challenging, to say the least, and it involved responding to a seventeen page Request for Evidence (RFE). I must admit, at first, I wasn’t even sure if we should take on this uphill battle.

After careful consideration with my attorney and paralegal, we decided to go ahead and respond to the RFE, taking the chance to fight for the approval. After all, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take but it’s definitely a very challenging process overall.
Submitted the i-140 (eb2 niw with premium processing) in June, RFE in July, response to RFE in a the beginning of October and final approval just a couple of days ago.

I’m 41, 10.000hrs mostly in Airbus (a320/330/340), 4.000 PIC. Bachelors degree in Aviation from Sydney. Additionally, entrepreneurial background in two previous businesses and training experience as LTC.

Good luck to everyone pursuing this path!

[bafanguy]

migrant,

Congrats on your considerable effort. What's your goal in the USA now that you have the legal ability to live/work here ?

Have you communicated with any airlines here ?

Do you have FAA tickets ?

[FourStripes]

Can we get a survey of those at the NVC stage and is waiting for the Visa Bulletin to advance. Indicate your priority date as well.

Priority Date:
Consulate or Embassy:

[737pilotguy]

Originally Posted by bafanguy

migrant,

Congrats on your considerable effort. What's your goal in the USA now that you have the legal ability to live/work here ?

Have you communicated with any airlines here ?

Do you have FAA tickets ?

I'm quite sure that you can't apply to the legacies without having the actual green card in hand, and a social security number, unless you have some "backdoor contacts" to apply through. If you do, please message me 🙏 I've got an FAA ATP and just waiting for the green card to move over. My petition for an EB2 was approved in October 2022. I've been waiting for my priority date to become current and to get an embassy interview since May 2023.
My priority date is 19th of September 2022, embassy in Europe.

[migrant]

Hi guys,

I still haven’t done the FAA licence conversion, any suggestions for training centers in the Miami area? Prices have gone up quite a lot. It should take a while for my interview since priority date is June/23.

Thanks

[bafanguy]

Originally Posted by migrant

Hi guys,

I still haven’t done the FAA licence conversion, any suggestions for training centers in the Miami area? Prices have gone up quite a lot. It should take a while for my interview since priority date is June/23.

Thanks

migrant,

There are a few in KMIA but I can't attest to the quality of any of them. Pan AM Academy is a long time provider. You didn't mention what aircraft type you'd be using so that may influence your choice. You can Google to see the available ones.

At the risk of telling you something you already know, you'll have to take that ATP-CTP course to be allowed to take the ATP written. This will be an expensive slap in the face to someone like you but it's government at work. I don't know if all the training providers in KMIA also offer the ATP-CTP course so that might also influence your choice. Pan Am Academy appears to offer it.

[Sunrig]

Originally Posted by migrant

Hi guys,

I still haven’t done the FAA licence conversion, any suggestions for training centers in the Miami area? Prices have gone up quite a lot. It should take a while for my interview since priority date is June/23.

Thanks

I did it in 2018 at Pan Am. I did a shortened Type rating course that was really quick. Everything was a bit disorganized but it worked out fine. Just be aware that you need a TSA clearance anytime you train in a simulator. That can take a couple of months to get approved for the first time.

[737pilotguy]

I completed my ATP at FTI in Miami, they had greater flexibility regarding scheduling than PanAm did, in my case. For the ATP-CTP, as previously stated, it's not an efficient use of time nor money for pilots already flying commercially and flying jets. Find the cheapest provider you can find. I have colleagues who got a discount doing both at the same provider. FAA has a pdf with approved ATP-CTP providers (https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/fi..._Providers.pdf).

[FourStripes]

To migrant:

What date is your Priority Date?

[losbol]

Good evening,

I have an appointment with these guys. But I postponed it once already due to the finances.
alliance-training.com
I have one colleaugue who gave me a good review. When I am finished I will sent you guys my review. They promise an interview with an airline and possibly a job...

[bafanguy]

Originally Posted by losbol

I have an appointment with these guys.. They promise an interview with an airline and possibly a job...

losbol,

Interesting that Alliance Training is promising an interview. I looked at their website and find that only Avelo Airlines is mentioned. So, can I assume that's the airline they offer an interview with ?

Also, what visa/citizenship status do you have that would enable you to accept a job with someone like Avelo ? Is Avelo helping people with visas, etc ?

[FourStripes]

Originally Posted by losbol

Good evening,

I have an appointment with these guys. But I postponed it once already due to the finances.
alliance-training.com
I have one colleaugue who gave me a good review. When I am finished I will sent you guys my review. They promise an interview with an airline and possibly a job...

You will interview with them, but you need to pay for the TR then after getting the TR they will endorse you to Avelo. Avelo then will decide if you are worth sponsoring. All in all you still need to to pay. You are better off applying with the DV visa or write your own EB2-NIW case.

[losbol]

Greencard sponsors

Good morning Bafanguy, and Fourstripes

From what information I got I actually only need them for the ATP CTP. Dutch nationality.
Avelo is a nice airline if you value QOL. From my conversation with them that is what was told to me, an interview and possibly a job at Avelo.
But as Fourstripes correctly stated a part of it is probably marketing. Once you have your greencard you can head ANYWHERE. even with my limited experience (1900 hrs TT/F50 and 737).

I went to a job fair last September and my impression is that the following airlines are willing to look at foreigners. EB2-NIW to be specific.
1) Breeze
2) Allegiant
3) Avelo
4) Skywest (via Rishworth)\
5) Atlas Air

Also have a look at this database. Here you can find the companies who have sponsored greencards in the past years, and most importantly the legal teams that assisted in the process. Immihelp is the wbsite. I cannot post url yet so wiill do that later..

The H1b is more popular since they have a bit more control over you as a pilot....

Regards

[FourStripes]

losbol

Did you actually apply via Alliance?
If you do, It would be interesting to know how exactly will they sponsor foreign pilots. Will it be H-1B or EB-3?

Do let us know.

4S

[losbol]

Results of H1B Sponsors pilot - 2023 - Page 1 (immihelp.com)

Results of Greencard Sponsors pilot - 2023 - Page 3 (immihelp.com)