Non U.S. Citizens w/ FAA ratings

[OhDannyBoy]

A pilot I fly with in the Caribbean is a British citizen with FAA certificates and ratings. He does not have the legal right to work in the U.S.. Can he apply for and/or be offered employment as a pilot without obtaining a work visa? (not that we need any more unemployed pilots in the U.S., I know I know)

 

[TR4A]

No. He needs to go through the normal channels to TAKE a job away from US citizens.

 

[satpak77]

He does not have the legal right to work in the U.S.. Can he apply for and/or be offered employment as a pilot without obtaining a work visa?

No. He can be "offered" whatever, however he must have proper "work visa."

This is more than likely going to be the "H-1B" visa, discussed here.

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/h1b.htm

Be advised that "airplane pilot" is not considered a specialty occupation by the DHS/former INS......advanced math, science, etc is. Also Registered Nurses actually are also, hence a large number of RN's from Canada working in USA.

To get the H-1B, the future employer has to request the visa for him, this is called a sponsor.

good luck

 

[saviboy]

No. He needs to go through the normal channels to TAKE a job away from US citizens.

Do you mean to take away a job as in a Scientist or an aerospace engineer " taking away" a job and eventually giving a Nobel prize to the USA for example?

This country was built by immigrants. As long as they are hard workers and loyal to the country I dont see where is the problem.

 

[Lori Clark]

Your friend is going to have to find a sponsor or establish citizenship. Unfortunately I haven't heard of any airlines sponsoring pilots. He may want to hire an immigration attorney to help identify what his options are. Sometimes his country of origin will offer a visa "lottery", that may be an option. But to work for an airline (at least all the ones who I have spoken with) he will need to get a Permanent Resident Alien Card. Keep in mind too that some visas will have restrictions - like you can leave the country but can't re-enter. This can pose a problem...


Good luck to your friend.

Lori

 

[xdashdriver]

A pilot I fly with in the Caribbean is a British citizen with FAA certificates and ratings. He does not have the legal right to work in the U.S.. Can he apply for and/or be offered employment as a pilot without obtaining a work visa? (not that we need any more unemployed pilots in the U.S., I know I know)

Finding an airline to sponsor you for an immigrant visa is probably next to impossible. There are probably some companies (not airlines) out there that would sponsor him. On top of that, getting DOL certification in the current state of the industry even with a sponsor would be also next to impossible. His only other options would be the visa lottery or having a close family member who is a US Citizen sponsor him. Family sponsorship does not require DOL certification.

The problem with non-immigrant work visas (like the H-1B) is that travel is more difficult as a crew member due to the extra paperwork and entry procedures in the US each time. As a result, airlines are usually fairly successful at being able to restrict their employment to immigrants (permanent residents) and citizens only.

Ray

 

[huncowboy]

no chance

You can only take jobs for which you can prove there is a shortage. There are some exceptions to this but mostly limited to executives and intra company transfers.

They way you prove shortage, is to advertise the job in detail in a well known paper for a certain amount of time and report all the applicants to the DOL (federal). BTW the job MUST not be restrictive i.e. you can't define stuff like: "need to speak German" if there is no real need for it. The minimum that is necessary for the job can be advertised. DOL will approve the actual text of the advertisement itself before they put it into the paper. And also DOL will determine the salary based on local averages.

Sooooo... good luck proving pilot shortage.

In the past years I have seen everything from plumbers to doctors getting a work visa.... just about everything but never heard of any pilot getting an H visa for a pilot job.

All the foreign pilots who I have seen got in by the lottery, or by marriage, or asylum. Or through an H visa which was originally for something else other than a pilot job. But thse have to wait for the green card before they can switch from their original profession to being a pilot.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

That's what I thought. We fly down here on work visas as there are no local qualified pilots, as yet. Not to ruffle anyone's feathers,...he did (and paid for) all of his training in the states and was just wondering about his options. Thanks.

 

[Rule of thumb]

Foreign Pilots do not have to wait for Green Card before getting employment.

If an EAD (Employment Authorisation Card) has been issued whilst you are awaiting your Green Card which in some cases can take several years you can apply for any position available.Travel priviledges in the form of an Advanced Parole document must also be in place to allow pilots to re enter the USA.
It is illegal for any company to refuse to not allow any applicant the same opportunities as Green Card Holders,Citizens.

 

[TR4A]

This country was built by immigrants. As long as they are hard workers and loyal to the country I dont see where is the problem.

I have a problem with it. Can Americans go to your country and get a flying job? NO.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

I have a problem with it. Can Americans go to your country and get a flying job? NO.

Actually, yes we can and are.

 

[TDK90]

I have a problem with it. Can Americans go to your country and get a flying job? NO.

Spoken like a true Redneck..there are thousand of US pilots living and flying in different countries all over the world, if you ever leave the comfort of the woods you might get to meet some of them.

 

[TR4A]

there are thousand of US pilots living and flying in different countries all over the world

Nice name calling. I am refering to the UK, Germany, France and other European countries.

 

[TDK90]

Nice name calling. I am refering to the UK, Germany, France and other European countries.

You asked for it..as an expat-Brit immigrant myself who has gone through the lengthy procedure of residency and finally naturalization. I'm proud to now call myself a U.S Citizen, but I'm frequently shocked and dissapointed by the frankly "anti johnny foreigner" attitude that comes out on these forums when it comes to employment. It's basic economics that's driving the pilot market, not scores of foreign pilots stealing your job.

 

[TR4A]

I'm frequently shocked and dissapointed by the frankly "anti johnny foreigner" attitude

Maybe it's the Irish in me. My GGGF left in 1860. I am married to a Dutch immigrant.

 

[xdashdriver]

Nice name calling. I am refering to the UK, Germany, France and other European countries.

Your ignorance is mind-boggling. There are scores of US Citizens flying in Europe. In fact, I would not be entirely surprised if the percentage of US pilots in Europe was higher than European pilots here in the US. In fact, it is most likely easier for an American to get a flying job in Europe than the other way around. Get some facts before you start spouting.

 

[TDK90]

Maybe it's the Irish in me.

There you go..I knew there had to be a reason

 

[TR4A]

There are scores of US Citizens flying in Europe. In fact, I would not be entirely surprised if the percentage of US pilots in Europe was higher than European pilots here in the US.

Are there American citizens flying for British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM?

 

[xdashdriver]

I have direct knowledge of U.S. Citizens flying for Aer Lingus, BMi, Virgin, British Airways (and a host of other UK airlines), Cargolux, Luxair and Icelandair. I have no personal, direct knowledge of the other companies you mentioned, but I would be very surprised if they did not have Americans working for them too.

Ray

 

[TR4A]

I have direct knowledge of U.S. Citizens flying for Aer Lingus, BMi, Virgin, British Airways (and a host of other UK airlines), Cargolux, Luxair and Icelandair. I have no personal, direct knowledge of the other companies you mentioned, but I would be very surprised if they did not have Americans working for them too.

There are very few compared to the vast amount flying for US major airlines. When the airline I was working for, Pan Am, shut down in December 1991, I sent a letter to KLM (My wife is Dutch) and was told no. They hire only from the Royal Air Force or their training program.