Don't waste your money. I just wasted well over 200,000 grand going to school here. Airline here won't give you a chance of the day without greencard. If you think you can go back home and fly than you are good cause than at least you wouldn't waste your money.

As for me I took a big gamble and now I'm realizing my parents were right after all. My parents always said I'm too stupid to be a pilot. I don't meet the medical standards for back home, so I came here cause with FAA I can get Class 1 easy. Since I love flying I thouht I' take the chance. I finished college and got my CFI. Now I'm flight instructing, but given some of the sponsoship requirements for greencard most flight schools aren't eligable. It have to be a full time salary based job with full benifits. I was hoping I'd get lucky with regionals, but no. Now I'm broke and ofcourse when I go home in few months I'll have no career as I won't pass my medical back home.

So be careful how you invest cause you might just loose if you don't know what you are getting into. Now if you know the right people you are all set. I know at least people that fly for airline here who doesn't have greencard. One is currently in Republic training for EMB-170 and she only have F-1 OPT temporary work visa and her boyfriend is with MESA with the same visa. Three others are in the process of getting greencard. So it can be done. It's not impossible if you know the right people in the HR department, but other wise it is very unlikely.

So if some one says you almost have no chance they are right, but if they say absolutley no than they don't know what they are talking about caue I can prove that airline do sponsor pilots. I personally know a handfull number of people who got their greencard through part 141 school and airlines. One guy I know just got his greencard about two weeks ago through Embryriddle in Florida and his borther got his greencard though IFTA in bakersfield california not too long ago.

I'm having some luck with a regional, but time is my enemy righ now. Two of the cheif pilot for a regional knows me well and they are both working with HR to help me. The reason I'm in bad shape is because my current visa expires before they can apply. They can only apply for work visa on a certain time of the year which is April 1st. So know the right people on the right time and you might just make it. Otherwise if I were you 'd think twice before I invest money here cause if things doesn't work out you will waste a lot of money like me.

Plus I'd suggest when you get here start talking to an immigration consultant from the beginning to find out your options. You really won't find out much here cause here you have a lot of people who just love to talk when they don't know what they are talking about.

Don't take any one's word for it, here it is in black and white:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/usc...0045f3d6a1RCRD


J

Guys,

sorry to bother you with such a question, I did all my training in the USA and I really enjoy it specially the high level of professionalism involved in all levels :D

My question is about the beard and the US policy I mean the companies policy because it was told to me that it's absolutely forbidden in the cockpit even if the FAA recommendation is that a trimmed beard is ok until it doesn't interfere with the seal of the oxygem mask.

Thanks :ok:

long forgotten is our singaporean friend eh?

the aviation scene in singapore is pathetic. SQ ownes the biggest 9V- fleet - including sia cargo, tiger, silkair - and Singapore Youth Flying Club ownes the second largest at 10 pa28 + 2 ct4e.

SQ hires from hongkong, india, malaysia for their cadet program as previously pointed out. locals can forget it with the 26y/o limit.

HOWEVER, unlike previously claimed, the transistion from RSAF to SQ is possible if not guranteed. im in grade 12 now and only a signiture away from 10yrs of service(if you didnt get it, the airforce pilot bond in SG is 10yrs). i specifically asked the recruitment officer this and he reassured me(though im not sure if he's just playing me to sell my soul). it is stated in the recruitment brochure under [retirement benefits] though.

come 32 and im gone making it not so bad.

instead of flying in north america, why not come back to singapore? syfc is low on instructors now. they've just gotten a rsaf guy to finish his remaining 2yrs(of his bond) there. their ground school instructor only just passed all 22 atp papers and he'll be gone soon. instructors get 2-3hrs a day and they fly 6 days a week so its not that long before qualifying for regionals like tiger or air asia though you'll probably have to get your own 320/NG rating.

my instructor half-jokingly asked me to instruct there when i passed my checkride this june. and its not true all the instructors are ex-rsaf.

but in the end, we should face it that singaporeans become engineers, doctors, lawyers and accountants, angmohs can fly us around the world.

Green Card Bubba !!!
 

Green Card for PT121 operations
Requirements have gone down to 250hrs at some regionals.
Yes, you :cool:can fly a JET with 250 hours under your belt if you have a green card.:cool:

Singapore's SIA
 

Yes! Very true. In this world, SIA could be the only airline that trains foreign cadets other than their own Singapore citizens! :eek:
Sounds very difficult.

SQ aside, how about the regionals?

Airplane Crazy!

I work for the biggest 135 operatore (Cargo Airline) in US on my OPT F-1 visa, (AND I LOVE IT) do some research on google and find how it is. I still have 11 months left on my OPT and during the interview they chief pilot still hired me, although I have temporery work permit. He told me he wants me to work for him for 3 years, so..... I'm hoping they are going to sponser H1-b visa wich start in April, 2008.

There is a big big shortage in US so they hire people, only qualified poeple!! WITH WORK ATHORIZATION I have around 1200 tt so I met their minimus. I was instructing in the college I got my F-1 visa from, so it let me to work as an instructor before I got my work permit.

I have been invieted to several regionals for interview and I have been telling them about my status in us and the only thing they told me was if I have clearence to fly in US from TSA.

I didn't go to several interviews becuse I want to fly freight or cargo and be based in Los Angeles which my current job is providing me.

I think we are going to see US airlines or Part 91/135 operatoers filing h1b visas soon.

:ok:

Graduate, get your CFI, and work at a University (UND, Perdue, ERAU, KS...). After you graduate, you'll have a year to get your H1-B visa. The University you work for should be able to help you out with the sponsorship, most of them do. Once on the H1-B, you can apply for an adjustment of status and get your green card. The process takes a long time though. To give you an example, from the time I set foot on American soil with my student visa, to my very first hour in a jet, it took 9 years. Is it worth it? absolutely. Expensive? You bet. I'm dirt poor, always have been. It takes school loans, lots of them, and mucho patience. I was lucky to find a good lawyer to help me out with the green card process; though the university did all the work as far as the sponsorship was concerned. I can name at least 10 of my friends from college who did it. All of us are working for a regional airline here except one (he is an Emb175 instructor at CAE).
To conclude, don't ever listen to anyone out there who tell you it is not possible. Those are your silly negative nearsighted dogmatic views of non ambitious people. I am a broke Iranian citizen, and fly for a US regional airline (RP Awys). If I can do it, anone can...:ok:

Send me a pm if you were at a school at Oklahoma before and if you are Iranian and EU citizen. If you are than I think I know you. [email protected]

I am about to graduate from University this coming May (2008), and plan to work in the US for a while prior to returning back to the Caribbean. I plan to apply for the OPT initially, and once I get settled in, to start working on the H-1B visa. Good or bad idea?

Good or bad? No need to ask cause that's the only option you have. Hate to tell you this though your luck is almost non existant. It will take you years to get a greencard. The question do you wanna invest so much in an industry where there is no gurantee for jobs and no money. I don't care for money, but now that I gotta support myself I realize it's easy to say I love flying more than money, but when time comes to pay bills all the fun is gone. I can't go home cause back home I can't fly. If you are from somewhere where you can get a good flying job than run home. Aviation now in US is completely screwed up. People here in aviation now expect you to work for free and put with crap while there is no gurantee that tomorrow you will have a job. Now not trying to discourage you, but unless you get a good deal make sure you don't invest too much in getting a green card cause I know people who spend many years and many dollars and at the end just had to pack up and go home as broke as it gets.

Thanks for the input Airplane Crazy. The thing is, there is so much more opportunity when it comes to the number of airlines here in the US, as compared to the Caribbean. The industry is in a state of confusion right now down there. Either way I will have to spend quite a bit of money. If I return to the region, I will have to convert my FAA license to the local license (costs quite a bit). If I stay up here, I will have to invest in acquiring that green card (also costs quite a bit). I am a strong believer in the fact that what's there for you can't ever be taken away. Afterall, hope is all we have in this profession right? Hope that we made the right decision in choosing this career in the first place. Hope that we will find that stable job doing what we love the most. Hope that we will wake up tomorrow, and still have a seat in the cockpit. I'm still depending on my passion for flying to feed my confidence in making a successful career in this field. Any other opinions/advice would greatly be appreciated. Once again, thanks...

Just do what seems best to you. I gotta tell you I love the US and I'm gonna do whatever it takes to stay here, but that's because my home sucks. It's too corrupt and people think like ancient style. Plus to get a job with airline there you gotta kiss peoples feet. US isn't free of troubles, but over all I find things in US way more fair than the rest of the world. Good luck with everything and don't be a stranger.

Man you couldn't have put it any better. Things are a lot brighter on this side of the ocean as compared to my home as well. I just don't feel like heading back just to sit on my butt, chewing away at my nails, and worrying about whether I'll ever get a start on paying off my student loan. The best of luck to you too, especially in this new year. We have to be optimistic man, even in the darkest of moments. Otherwise, we just won't make it!

Happy New Year to all and your families!

YP

I can tell all of you that from my personal experience, it could be done.

I set foot in the US with a F-1 visa for a 4-year degree, got all my licenses in 2.5 years and worked as a pilot and an instructor for the 1.5 years, all while I was getting my degree.

I was gonna apply for OPT, and I was even offered a H-1 visa sponsorship by my employer before my F-1 expired. And I am not the only one without a green card from my university who got job offers, from different employers.

I didn't apply for OPT, nor did I get the sponsorship, because I took a gamble for, IMHO, a better job flying back home. Luckily, I got the job, so it worked out, but even if I didn't, there are other opportunities around the world.

Those 4 or 5 years of experiences will allow you to get a job, possibly jet, somewhere else in the world. It might not be the best flying job, but at least you'll be flying.

A few examples:
- Qatar Airways cadets/second officer (wide-bodies... and no, you don't need Qatar residency)
- Virgin Nigeria (737s)
- Winair in Sint Maarten (do a DH-6 course in Flight Safety International in Toronto and you pretty much have a job guaranteed)
- etc...

Aviation is all about who you know, and 4 years is a long time to build connections for future use, you might as well end up with a job in the US, as a few other posters have pointed out and/or personally done.

Of course, flight training in the US is cheaper than anywhere else in the world.

Started reading as I have studied in the US years ago. I have been "applying" for the Green card lottery several times without any luck so found the thread interesting...

It looks to me like it is "just" a matter of a company "sponsoring" the applicant. For now maybe they are not desperate enough, maybe they will never be, depends very much on the US economy in the next 12-18 months I guess.....

This is from the US Immigration Services web site


"EB-3 Skilled or professional workers

• Foreign national professionals with bachelor's degrees (not qualifying for a higher preference category)
• Foreign national skilled workers (minimum two years training and experience)
• Foreign national unskilled workers

How to Apply If you are an employer wishing to sponsor (or petition) for a foreign national to work in the United States on a permanent basis, you must file Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker. Detailed information is provided in the instructions for Form I-140. Filing requirements differ for each of the five categories.
The Department of State is responsible for providing visa numbers to foreign nationals interested in immigrating to the United States. To find out more about the Department of State's visa process visit the Department of State website for specific information on how to get an immigrant visa number.
To check the status of a visa number you can review the Department of State's visa bulletin.

Where do I apply
If you are an employer wishing to sponsor (or petition) a foreign national to work in the United States, a Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker must be filed at the USCIS Service Center. Detailed filing information is provided in the instructions for Form I-140.
For EB-4 special workers, the foreign national or employer must file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, with the CIS Service Center. Detailed filing information is provided in the instructions for Form I-360. "



Impossible? I think not...

Have been here (US) for some months now and have seen no evidence of a genuine pilot shortage... experienced pilots are becoming a rarer animal but low-timers are easily come by... Have not heard of any instance of employer sponsored visas other than for flight instructors... (Florida)

Quote:

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ORANGEDRIVER

---

... Interesting to hear that you tried the lottery...I was under the impression that Brits were not allowed to take part in that.. do you have Irish ancestory ?

poorwanderingwun - Im not British thats why....:ok: Last year I missed the last date to apply so guess I will not get a Green card this year either..:ugh:

Spirit Airlines
 

Just take a look at their web site!!!!!!
The pilot requirements only mention to have a valid passport and documentation that allows you to enter and exit the US. It does not say anything about being an US citizen or US resident.
Just check it out!!!!!!!!!!

AA