CFI work permission
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 48
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From: italy
CFI work permission
According to the US law, if I have a sponsor I can be employed...but why is it not possible for the aviation world, expecially for the CFI? I'm an italian pilot and I would like be a CFI in US, but I can't do it because I haven't any working permission or green card.
Please help me
Please help me
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 241
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From: UK
From what I recall when I was there a few years ago to employ you the sponsor has to show that no other US person is suited to do the job. Normally by means of clever wording in job ads etc, so that you are the only eligible candidate. A little harder to do for a CFI job. Plus, it costs the company a fair amount of money to sponsor someone for a work permit. Why bother when there are so many CFIs who are US citizens and all the J-1 visa holders to choose from. Another point is, that most schools use the CFI hour building on a J-1 visa as a selling point. Giving the job to an already qualified foreign CFI would not be financially beneficial to the school.
Moderator
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 802
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From: Chicago, IL
J-1 visas are for students. They cannot be used to hire an already qualified CFI. They can be used to allow someone to train as a pilot and then remain in the country for a time to work in their chosen field to gain experience.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Argentina
Hi there, you could apply to an M-1 Visa, that is going to let you fly as a CFI, but you will not be able to receive compensation. If you are ok with that, you could do it.
There are som eflight schools that use this type of visa on hour building programs.
Good luck, and fly safely.
There are som eflight schools that use this type of visa on hour building programs.
Good luck, and fly safely.
Moderator
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 802
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
RAA is one such school
http://www.raaflightschools.com/whyU...alStudents.asp
just go to google and type in M1 visa flight school, you will get hundreds of responses.
just go to google and type in M1 visa flight school, you will get hundreds of responses.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Argentina
An other one is Phoenix East, try www.pea.com
there are a lot of this schools in FLorida
there are a lot of this schools in FLorida
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 88
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From: USA
Snake,
Here's what I've experienced in the last 10 years I've been in the U.S., last 4 actually earning my living instructing:
1. There's a constant struggle with maintaining your immigration status. You absolutely HAVE to be on top of current immigration laws, expiration dates, what you can and can't do with a given visa/status.
2. EVERYTHING is "rather" slow with USCIS. "Lesser" visas, (F, J-visa etc., for students) through flight schools etc. can be obtained in few months, BUT they typically carry strict limitations on where and how long you can work (1 year limit typical). H-1 category offers lengthier stay (up to 6 years), BUT the application process is much more complicated: employer needs to prove to the Dept.of Labor through labor certification that you are getting paid "prevailing wage" and that your background/education fits the requirements of "specialty occupation" (4-year/Bachelor's degree or more, or 5 yrs+ work experience or combination). And the employer has to pay an application fee of ~$1,300 (excluding any attorney's fees); takes 6-10 mos to process, if you manage to file the petition before the quota for the year is filled...
3. If you are planning a career in the U.S. as a pilot, eventually you will have to apply for a green card = even longer wait, even more money spent (green card application + plus attorney = $6,000 and up). At the moment there's just too many pilots wanting to fly that shiny CRJ or instruct in the Seminole for $19k/yr, thus eliminating the primary criteria for the green card "employer unable to find a U.S. citizen to do the job, needed to hire a foreigner..." . Currently the wait could be as long as 8-10 years before an immigrant-wanna-be sees any other color card in their wallet except the colors of maxed out Master's, AX's, VISA's.
Hate to be the party-pooper but the current immigration situtation in the States just sucketh. Yes, it's the land of opportunity for many, but the good ol' "well if you just work hard, everything is possible" attitude seems to require a heck of a lot of luck as a sidedish in order for a foreigner to make it here as a pilot.
I guess I took the wrong ship over the pond. Should've married an American. Not.
-T-
Here's what I've experienced in the last 10 years I've been in the U.S., last 4 actually earning my living instructing:
1. There's a constant struggle with maintaining your immigration status. You absolutely HAVE to be on top of current immigration laws, expiration dates, what you can and can't do with a given visa/status.
2. EVERYTHING is "rather" slow with USCIS. "Lesser" visas, (F, J-visa etc., for students) through flight schools etc. can be obtained in few months, BUT they typically carry strict limitations on where and how long you can work (1 year limit typical). H-1 category offers lengthier stay (up to 6 years), BUT the application process is much more complicated: employer needs to prove to the Dept.of Labor through labor certification that you are getting paid "prevailing wage" and that your background/education fits the requirements of "specialty occupation" (4-year/Bachelor's degree or more, or 5 yrs+ work experience or combination). And the employer has to pay an application fee of ~$1,300 (excluding any attorney's fees); takes 6-10 mos to process, if you manage to file the petition before the quota for the year is filled...
3. If you are planning a career in the U.S. as a pilot, eventually you will have to apply for a green card = even longer wait, even more money spent (green card application + plus attorney = $6,000 and up). At the moment there's just too many pilots wanting to fly that shiny CRJ or instruct in the Seminole for $19k/yr, thus eliminating the primary criteria for the green card "employer unable to find a U.S. citizen to do the job, needed to hire a foreigner..." . Currently the wait could be as long as 8-10 years before an immigrant-wanna-be sees any other color card in their wallet except the colors of maxed out Master's, AX's, VISA's.
Hate to be the party-pooper but the current immigration situtation in the States just sucketh. Yes, it's the land of opportunity for many, but the good ol' "well if you just work hard, everything is possible" attitude seems to require a heck of a lot of luck as a sidedish in order for a foreigner to make it here as a pilot.
I guess I took the wrong ship over the pond. Should've married an American. Not.
-T-
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: italy
are you sure American Flight school allow to be a FI working for them without a working permission even if you work without compensations?
please give me contacts about school interested for FI able to work without compensation. Thanks
please give me contacts about school interested for FI able to work without compensation. Thanks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: Norwich, CT USA
Why don't you apply to Pan Am Beijing, they are hireing and they will sponsor you for Chinese work permits and what have you. Of course its 24 K a year and you have to stick around for 14 months. This working for nothing BS is not going to win you any friends in the industry.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Every Where
Visa
Originally Posted by snake80
According to the US law, if I have a sponsor I can be employed...but why is it not possible for the aviation world, expecially for the CFI? I'm an italian pilot and I would like be a CFI in US, but I can't do it because I haven't any working permission or green card.
Please help me
Please help me
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: US
Quit your whining boys. I'm an American who has lived overseas. It's harder for an American to get permission to work in a lot of European countries than it is for a European to work over here in the states. Plenty of pilots here. Your best bet would be to trained in some other profession so you can work here legally and do CFI work on the side.
