UK citizen training in the USA
 

As my title suggests, I am a UK citizen who is wanting to take up a career in aviation. I am aware that the USA is cheaper and better (weather wise) than the UK to learn in, so i was thinking of getting my FAA license (also due to the FAA license being more internationally accepted than the CAA). My issue is that I am worried about what happens after i have finished my training due to visa issues as I am aware that the M1 and F1 visas terminate once training is finished. If i was to train up to the point of CFI in the USA, could i be hired on a working visa to extend my stay to build up flying hours while i earn? I preferably would like to live in the USA for a while after getting this license, so moving back to the UK is not the answer i am looking for.

Is there anyone on here that has either done what i am looking to do or has any good information on how i should approach this training? Also any good flight schools that people would recommend would be awesome.

Thankyou.

Hello, UK resident here.

This is a very common scenario that you’re posing.

There are two factors at play here: Right to work and licencing.

As a UK citizen, you do not have the right to work in the USA. Some schools get around this by offering students paid CFI work under student pay regulations.

These are all time capped and once your visa expires that’s it. Off you go to Europe.

If you get an FAA licence, that’s pretty useless in Europe, you’ll have to convert it to EASA which means taking all the theory exams and re-doing a lot of the flight tests.

So my advice to you is as follows. Train in the type of licence that you want to work in. If you’re planning of living in Europe indefinitely. Get an EASA licence. A lot of the process can be done in the USA to save money but ultimately you need to have right to work.

If you do manage to get a US work permit then by all means go FAA

You didn't mention your age, or status, as this could drastically affect the 'best' course of action.

Do not discount the US option. There are numerous options there, that are unavailable world-wide.

A couple of current considerations:

1. At the moment there are less instructor opportunities, due to furlough, and the typical career route in US.
2. Immigration is restricted, due to C-19 unemployment.
3. The hours you are 'guaranteed' as an instructor, do not always materialise.
4. However, you will have fun, and the weather is better.
5. Marry an American... stranger things have happened!
6. After training, consider an alternative visa?

There is no 're-doing' of flight tests. As a professional pilot, you will always be constantly tested. It’s a skill that you have to maintain, so if you go FAA>EASA, there will be additional training and testing, but you are 'buying' two products, probably for no more than just doing the EASA-only route.

Biggest tip, if I had to do it again: don't forget the 'fun' part!

Polorutz

Thankyou for your reply,

I don't really want to work in Europe which is why i was considering the USA license. I am also not one of these people who would just want to spend all his life in one place and i see a career in aviation as an opportunity to work all round the world? Living in the UK post Brexit means we also dont have the freedom to work anywhere in Europe so an EASA license comes with visa issues to no?

How difficult is it to get a USA work permit though? I think that is the clinching question that defines what license i get

Almost Impossible unless you are prepared to buy a ring and take a knee.

A lot of us have been there and tried it. It's easy to get in on a training visa for 2 years, because you're bringing money into the country. To actually earn money they need to prove that there is no one local who can do the job, which is almost impossible and would take a lot of money.

Well this is changing with the mutual recognition agreement USA-EU, or BASA.

https://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes...ited-states_en

Unfortunately the BASA only relates to PPL, IR and MEP. It has nothing to do with CPL or ATPL theory exams, and doesn’t give any advantage over the current system.

Here is a direct link:

https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/def...inal_signe.pdf

And requires a skills test. So, how many flight schools will milk you dry with "training" for the skills test? As rudestuff says, there is no relief for FAA CPL or ATP holders.