Navigating Difficult US Aviation Career Path (British)
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2023
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From: United Kingdom
Navigating Difficult US Aviation Career Path (British)
I'm a 19-year-old from the UK with a lifelong dream of becoming a commercial pilot. Unfortunately, I've hit a major roadblock—I can't get my CAA Class 1 medical due to eyesight restrictions. This has been a tough pill to swallow, but instead, I've been looking into opportunities outside the UK, and I've recently passed the FAA Class 1 medical, which is fantastic news because it opens a lot of doors for commercial flight in the United States.
However, there's one issue: residency. I’m not keen on spending tens of thousands of dollars on FAA ATPL training without a clear path to staying in the US afterward. From what I understand, no airline is likely to hire a FO on a temporary visa, especially when there's a risk that once the visa expires, I might have to leave the country, and hence the job.
So, I’m exploring alternative routes. One idea I’ve had is to go to the US on a student visa to study something unrelated to aviation—essentially to get a US-recognized qualification and establish a good reputation in the country. I’m aware that the US isn’t particularly welcoming to uneducated immigrants, and from what I’ve gathered, you can’t apply for a visa solely as "pilot". My thought process is that by obtaining a US-certified degree (like "mechanical engineering" or "registered nurse"), I could potentially use that qualification to apply for a green card. Once I’m a legal resident, I could then pursue my aviation career MUCH more freely.
My questions are:
If anyone could answer any of the above or point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it!
bakerin
However, there's one issue: residency. I’m not keen on spending tens of thousands of dollars on FAA ATPL training without a clear path to staying in the US afterward. From what I understand, no airline is likely to hire a FO on a temporary visa, especially when there's a risk that once the visa expires, I might have to leave the country, and hence the job.
So, I’m exploring alternative routes. One idea I’ve had is to go to the US on a student visa to study something unrelated to aviation—essentially to get a US-recognized qualification and establish a good reputation in the country. I’m aware that the US isn’t particularly welcoming to uneducated immigrants, and from what I’ve gathered, you can’t apply for a visa solely as "pilot". My thought process is that by obtaining a US-certified degree (like "mechanical engineering" or "registered nurse"), I could potentially use that qualification to apply for a green card. Once I’m a legal resident, I could then pursue my aviation career MUCH more freely.
My questions are:
- Is this a viable plan? Would getting a degree or qualification in something unrelated help me in the long run?
- What are the fastest and most cost-effective degree options that would be recognized for a green card application?
- Has anyone here gone through a similar process, or know of someone who has? If so, what path did you/they take?
If anyone could answer any of the above or point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it!
bakerin
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 252
Likes: 15
From: Augusta, Georgia, USA (back from Germany again)
You won't get hired on a "temporary visa."
Without a clear right to work you may not, uh, work in the US. It's the same as if I wanted to be an airline pilot in the UK.
Green cards are (unfortunately) much more of a lottery system than merit-based. The two "easiest" options are 1) invest $800,000 in a US business or 2) get married, legitimately, to an American.
There are flight schools in the US where you can have the stated educational goal of ATP. ATP requires 1,500 hours. The normal way to get there is through instructing. So, the visa lets you instruct from Commercial/CFI to 1,500. And get paid. This can easily take three years. If you are a decent guy w/ a few quid you'd stand a good chance of meeting someone you might want to marry.
But please marry for love, not for a green card!
Alternatively, move to Australia and become a citizen. Australian pilots may get visas to fly in the US.
Without a clear right to work you may not, uh, work in the US. It's the same as if I wanted to be an airline pilot in the UK.
Green cards are (unfortunately) much more of a lottery system than merit-based. The two "easiest" options are 1) invest $800,000 in a US business or 2) get married, legitimately, to an American.
There are flight schools in the US where you can have the stated educational goal of ATP. ATP requires 1,500 hours. The normal way to get there is through instructing. So, the visa lets you instruct from Commercial/CFI to 1,500. And get paid. This can easily take three years. If you are a decent guy w/ a few quid you'd stand a good chance of meeting someone you might want to marry.
But please marry for love, not for a green card!
Alternatively, move to Australia and become a citizen. Australian pilots may get visas to fly in the US.
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 177
Likes: 4
From: Planet Earth
Sounds like you’ve failed the CAA class one initial requirements, but would your eyesight meet the CAA revalidation requirements?
If so, a possible route might be to first gain an FAA commercial licence in USA which would then qualify you to be assessed to the CAA revalidation requirements (as you would be considered already a commercial pilot).
Best to confirm this with the UK CAA medical department, but this route was certainly available in the past.
If this is a no-go, I’d say just go for your FAA ratings and network like hell while you’re in USA. A friend of mine did this, ended up being sponsored for an H1B visa by his flight school, later petitioned for green card and is now happily working for a US major.
You’re young and have time on your side if it doesn’t work out.
If so, a possible route might be to first gain an FAA commercial licence in USA which would then qualify you to be assessed to the CAA revalidation requirements (as you would be considered already a commercial pilot).
Best to confirm this with the UK CAA medical department, but this route was certainly available in the past.
If this is a no-go, I’d say just go for your FAA ratings and network like hell while you’re in USA. A friend of mine did this, ended up being sponsored for an H1B visa by his flight school, later petitioned for green card and is now happily working for a US major.
You’re young and have time on your side if it doesn’t work out.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 72
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From: United Kingdom
Joined: Feb 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,689
Likes: 118
From: USA
https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the...from-australia
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 72
Likes: 1
From: United Kingdom
Not just for pilots but many have been able to work it to their advantage and are now flying in the USA:
https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the...from-australia
https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the...from-australia
Joined: Feb 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,689
Likes: 118
From: USA
It came from some trade deal where the USA rewarded Australia for something because we're friends. Just politics so we don't really understand it.
The heyday of the E3 where 1500 hour Aussies came to US regionals with no FAA licenses and ended up with FAA ATPs and a job in a regional jet (with no financial outlay from themselves) may have slowed down a bit. Hard to say where it goes from here.
Lots to read if you're interested in the evolution of this phenomenon:
Australian pilots can work for US regionals.
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 6
From: Here
I would say unless you can qualify by family or marriage I would forget about it, your dealing with minuscule percentages and investing time and money into this you would rather deal with higher chances of a successful outcome.
While this doesn’t involve the USA , one option is to get a FAA lisence then hopefully have a career working overseas which is more doable. You will need a type rating or start of bush flying and still rely on networking and luck but its a higher chance then trying to get any type of work visa in the USA. You may run into issues with different countries medicals , as each country has different eyesight requirements sometimes even more strict than the UK.
sorry to be negative but I believe its best to be realistic , if you don’t feel like its doable working abroad and there is a lot less opportunities now for low hour pilots after covid 19 maybe it is something you might want to re consider and try to qualify in something else or just fly for fun .
While this doesn’t involve the USA , one option is to get a FAA lisence then hopefully have a career working overseas which is more doable. You will need a type rating or start of bush flying and still rely on networking and luck but its a higher chance then trying to get any type of work visa in the USA. You may run into issues with different countries medicals , as each country has different eyesight requirements sometimes even more strict than the UK.
sorry to be negative but I believe its best to be realistic , if you don’t feel like its doable working abroad and there is a lot less opportunities now for low hour pilots after covid 19 maybe it is something you might want to re consider and try to qualify in something else or just fly for fun .
