US Green Card options
 

Hey guys,
I’m getting some emails from aviation head hunters/ Law firms looking for pilots that are interested in applying for a US Green card. I know this topic’s been discussed somewhere on the forum but are there any candidates that are busy with this process or have been through this process? I’d love some info from our side about this, or even guys that might have had their application rejected.

Cheers lads.

I 've just been through the process with a lawyer, spent around 10K usd.
My profile: 9000h tt, 3000h pic on 737 and 320, 17 years in the industry.
4 ATPLs (including the FAA one). Worldwide experience, ETOPS, Cat C airports, high altitude airports,...
Letters of recommendation from test pilots, directors of flight ops, chief pilots, instructors/examiners, even a board member of a reputed airline. I'm also a member of a reputed association. I have a bachelor's degree (not aviation related though). I thought I had a pretty good shot.
Answer from the USCIS: they sent me an RFE (request for further evidence). Basically not a no yet, but they said that I failed to demonstrate that I am exceptional, and that a pilot shortage is not enough to grant me the EB2 NIW because it's not the purpose of this visa. They want more evidence that giving me a work visa will benefit the US. They want evidence of contributions that I made to the industry. I cannot give them more than what I already gave them, so I'm giving up. I've got a pretty good job back home now anyway.
It might have been different had I been an instructor/examiner, or maybe I was just unlucky to be evaluated by a picky person...
But it's definitely not as easy as some people would like us to believe.

Have you considered the Green Card lottery? Probably better chances getting in that way and it's free. The window to apply is usually around October/November. Good luck.

The lottery (aka Diversity Visa) explicitly excludes citizens of countries which already have 50k visas of other counties issued per year.

That means U.K. is excluded (though I think Northern Ireland is included)

I've played a few times and never won...

The chances to win the DV lottery are about 2% for Europeans, I've been playing for 15 years with no luck.

Know a guy who played once, won, then after 1 year divorced his wife, to then marry a yank. :{

Anyone asking for cash up front is a scam. PM if you want to know more and are serious as it’s not an easy or quick process.

If your not eligible for a E3 and don’t fancy setting your tinder to Miami forget it. A waste of energy that you can put into something else more productive, you’ll thank me later….

Any success largely depends on the presentation to USCIS. The case officer doesn't know you and they just read what's put in front of them. They have the final say and apparently have alot of discretion in their determination of eligibility. You definitely need to tick certain boxes to stand a chance and prove that it is in the national interest by granting you and your family an immigrant visa. Having said that, I've been approved, submitted all necessary paperwork, and moving asap. There's also a thread over at the North America area on here which might give you more info.

Have second hand info of two EU (non UK) pilots who won a Green Card.

Just reposting this in case anyone missed it the last time......

Thank you for your reply mate. The way I see it, my chances are slim to none existent. You’ve got way more credentials than me and even so they’re being a pain in the butt.

The thing is these agencies are making it sound so easy and pumping up stats as if everyone’s got an opportunity, I knew it was too good to be true. I was actually hoping to find someone who did manage to get a Gc via an immigration lawyer but no luck as of yet.

I wouldn’t give up, just yet. You obviously thought it worthwhile investing in a lawyer: they should be able to work out what is needed to tip you over the threshold.

My dilemma was always whether to go for a lawyer that understands aviation, or one that understands immigration. I chose the latter.

I previously dealt with an RFE myself (different visa). Restated, and answered every one of the 4 objections, included the 200-page logbook (and advised USCIS not to read it!) It was approved shortly after.

This is why most would need to use a lawyer: they convert our ‘wishful thinking’ into compliance, and furthermore into the language that guarantees acceptance.

Good luck.

Why not chose both? I’m an airline pilot, former military pilot, and an immigration attorney.

For married pilots with assets, an option is to have the spouse do an investment visa and the pilot can work for an airline as a derivative. The process is faster than the EB2. Once in the US, you can decide to file the EB2 if so desired. If anyone has any questions on this strategy, feel free to email me at [email protected]

Of course, you'll need to invest $800,000 as a minimum plus fees.

That would be for an EB-5 ($800,000 or 1.05 million depending on the area). This would lead to a green card but takes a while to process.

An E-2 requires around $100,000. The only thing is, it doesn’t lead to a green card immediately.

Interesting option, that's a lot more affordable. But from what I understand an actual viable business must be purchased or set up, money transferred into the US and actually spent on Lease, equipment, inventory etc before the visa can be processed?