Working in the US
 

I am a New Zealand citizen looking to work in the U.S. I have already converted my NZ CAA CPL and ME IR license to FAA. Was wondering if anyone knows of a visa category that allows me to work in the U.S. as a pilot? Or knows of any airlines or operators that offer employment (subject to their interview process) to international applicants.Looking at the visa categories the EB-3 visa seems to be my best shot but you need an offer of employment first.
If you found a way to work in the U.S. please let me know how. Thanks

The E3 I think only applies to Australian citizens. Otherwise your only other option is to marry an American and get s green card.

Thanks for the reply. You are right, that the E-3 visas only apply to the Australians.
However, was looking at the EB-3 visa category and wondering if it would work.


"To qualify for an EB3 Green Card, the applicant must have a permanent, full time job offer from a US employer for which qualified workers are not available in the United States. Skilled Workers must be able to demonstrate at least 2 years of job experience or training."


I have 2 years of job/training experience, but was not sure about the "..qualified workers are not available in the United States" part. If a company has issues filling position due to lack of interest or a pilot shortage then would that classify as "no workers avail....etc)?

See post #18 in the thread about US Regional Headhunting. Republic tried and failed to do what you mention. Government wouldn't buy their argument.

The E3 is real carve out. I haven't seen any data on how many Aussies have come here in that deal but doubt it involves huge numbers.

Good luck in your efforts.

Thanks for the info. Guess I just got to try the diversity lottery.

Read the thread US regional headhunting, all your answers are there.

The short answer yes you can work in the US, but only regionals will look at you, no you don't need your FAA license the regional will swap it over for you as part of your type rating.

Actually, if it goes through, I think it will shutdown foreign pilot applicants. It will be a point system based on age, education, English ability and job salary. The most points you can get in the age category is 10 if you are 26-30. A foreign bachelors gets you 5 points. A 90% English proficiency gets you 11 points, 100 % gets you 11 points. The job must pay 150% of median household income in the state in which the person will be employed to get 5 points. The lowest median household income in a state with an airline crew base is 47k so the job will have to pay almost 71k to earn any salary points. And you'll need at least 30 points to even apply. If you have a Nobel Prize, that gets you 25 points.

If someone maxs the age and English points and has a foreign Bachelors degree they'll have 27 points. To get any salary points the income has to exceed 150 percent of the state median. So to be based in North Carolina (47.8k), Florida (49.4k) or Arizona (51k) they'd have to be paid in the low to mid 70s. If they're going to based in New York, Illinois or California they'll have to be paid 90k plus. I don't think entry level pilot is the high tech, high wage jobs the plan is looking for.

How to earn 'points' under Trump's immigration bill - CNNPolitics.com