Originally Posted by
bnkangle
Back in my CFI days, I flew with a non-NASA astronaut from a different country, but he worked for NASA here in the States and contributed to research. He previously did two missions on the ISS.
He was the most interesting and brilliant person I've ever met and I guarantee his pay was not being undercut. In fact, NASA was/is probably paying premium to have him.
There's nothing remarkable about holding an ATP, so yes work visas for foreigners should only be for those with something great or unique to contribute to society, not run of the mill pilots.
He wasn't on a visa, and didn't work for NASA, be worked for his own nation's space agency and was on semi permanent assignment to NASA. He was also not hired because the US is short of astronaut candidates, he was part of the ISS partnership.