Originally Posted by
kalyx522
... I have to tell you, trying to get a green card legally is a very arduous and lengthy process. There were/are numerous foreign CFIs at ERAU who instructed there for 5-7 years while awaiting the green card process. (ERAU requires you to give them a certain amount service before they'll sponsor you for the green card (for INS purposes), and then once the green card process starts, it takes another 3-5 years, depending on each person and their circumstance and also how many times your lawyer screws up your paperwork.)
Then again, you can always invest several millions dollars or marry a US citizen. (the only 2 legal ways that I personally know of.)
I agree with almost everything you’ve said except when it comes to ERAU "sponsoring green cards" - I'm fairly certain ERAU (and other universities) cannot sponsor a person for a green card. Instead, they'll sponsor the students with time limited F1/M1 or J1 visas which are basically student/training visas that allow students part time “practice jobs” in the field of their studies such as flight instructing in the field of aviation, etc.
I think the people you were talking about who waited 5-7 years or so were foreign student who went through the process on their own (marriage, “green card” lottery, business visa exchanged to green card, etc, etc.) and while they were waiting for their paper work to be squared away they kept flight instructing mainly because the visas they had in effect "locked them" to a specific work place.
Just wanted to clarify that…
Also, laxislife - in response to Boredwlife's post above - I'm now at UPS and I do love what I do for a living. However, I loved it even when I flew for a nearly defunct commuter airline making $25k a year. Couldn't pay all my bills and kept maxing out my credit cards (some of which I'm still paying off
) but I loved it nevertheless.
By the way, your questions remind me of a former student of mine, he was a computer designer/engineer who gave up his successful career and his own small business venture to become a pilot at the age of ~38. He became a great captain and loved what he did even though everyone told him he'd made a mistake. Unfortunately, he died in an accident a few years later but when I ran into his brother one day he told me that his brother was the happiest when he worked as a commuter pilot... The flying meant more to him than all the money in the world...
It is a tough profession but in my opinion a great one...