EU pilot to US pilot
 

Does anyone have any experience in being a EU citizen and moving to the U.S. to work in the airlines? It was a discussion topic today....

Regards

Living in the US and flying there I find I quite often hear "foreign" accents on US carriers. Weather they were dual citizenship holders, got married, there on visa or are green card holders I don't know. But I would assume as long as you have a permanent residency you can be gainfully employed by any airline. The trick is to get that one. Took me many years to get mine, so it's a process.

When I was at Continental (now United) we had numerous pilots who were not U.S. citizens. I personally knew a Mexican national, a New Zealander, A Swede, a Dutchman, a Belgian, a Dominican, etc. When I was flying freight I even knew a couple of Iraqis.

You'll need a good reason to be successful in obtaining a work permit.. The majors are the only ones worth working for, everyone else has far less attractive working conditions than you'll find in Europe and the majors are inundated with applications in this current market. If you have serious large jet time and are current on type and a realistic chance of obtaining a work-permit (married to a US national) you may be lucky.

I am a european citizen, with a green card trying to get a job in the US, not easy though!!! It's a loonnng process!:}

Guys, information is greatly appreciated, it's all very interesting. Thank you.

There are thousands upon thousands of applications in at all the major carriers from qualified pilots. How could one prove that there was an economic need for a foreign pilot to fill that role?

I'd say it's about as difficult as an American getting a job at British Airways. I could be wrong though...

Unless you have a legal permit to work (green card, VISA...) you wont be even considered. Having thousands of pilots applying, no US carrier will start the paperwork to get a work visa

Sounds about right, FWIW there are a handful at BA but they have family "links" that give them to right to work in the EU.

If you are able to present a validated GreenCard clearance and thus have the permit to work in the U.S. it is a long way to get a job. If you don't, you won't.

There are special skilled people able to get a work permit, but airline business definitely does not qualify for special treatment and bureaucracy to get work visa is so tough and expensive that almost no enterprise will do that for you.

I am from Europe and fly for United

Just apply at air apps if you have the right to work in the States

Average new hire so see coming have 9-10 thousand hrs and 3-4 thousand jet PIC

Not like in Europe , who you know, you apply you interview and logos luck

I am from Europe and fly for United

Just apply at air apps if you have the right to work in the States

Average new hire I see coming has around 9-10 thousand hrs and 3-4 thousand jet PIC and many TRIs

Not like in Europe , who you know, you apply you interview and you need luck


12000 applicants