dALre

I can't decide because I've no information at all.
So help me out...
I'm South Korean nationality and thinking about going US to get trained.

I have to decide whether to go colleage(I'm thinking about ERAU) with F1 visa and graduate with OPT
OR
Simply go aviation academy.


If I have OPT, I have right to live and work in US for 3 years maximium.
But I cannot sure. Who would hire foreigners?
Most companies write their minium requirements on their homepages like 'have a right to live and work in US' not 'US citizen' but who knows?
There are lots of qualified US workers out there and who would hire foreinger student just got out from colleage with zero commericial experience...
(These are just my illusions)


So I want to know about possibilities about get hired as foreigner in US as graduations. It doesn't matter how big or small company it is.
Can work even in bad terms and conditions if I can get proper experiences.

aiir

Haha...your last sentence is one reason among many as to why US Citizens are against foreign labor. You're here asking about a way to educate yourself in order to provide a specialized service to an employer which is commendable and very valuable, you should not lower your standards when seeking employment.

With that said, I'm not entirely sure about how the airlines go about hiring foreigners. From what I've seen, SkyWest has brokered some sort of deal with Australian pilots but I don't know all the details as far as that arrangement, which I believe is only temporary.

It is my understanding that most foreign exchange students that come to study aviation here in the United States do so, and then go back to their countries of origin to pursue their career professionally, or perhaps another country with more lenient labor laws as far as hiring foreigners as pilots.

Also, it is important to mention that there are many airlines with great Ab Initio programs in countries very close to where you live. Going that route you wouldn't have to go into debt in order to get your qualifications. You do however have to have your ducks in a row before applying to them since they are very strict as to who they accept into their programs.

Your other option is to come over here, study, and find some spare time to fall in love or at least pretend as much, haha, and marry someone in order to obtain US Citizenship and thus the right to work.

Those are my humble thoughts, lol, granted I have very little experience in these matters...but I do understand the frustration of not being able to pursue certain dreams...hope it all works out for you!

dALre

Really thank you for sharing your experiences.
And I dind't even realized those willingness to bare such conditions could affect to labor market...

utopia

If you ever decide to apply in the US for work, the major advantage you have is being bilingual. I am not sure if some companies look for foreigners who are bilingual speakers since there are many US citizens who can speak two languages too but your best bet would be a company that needs a Korean speaker.

Quarryman

Please stay in your own country. We have enough "bad terms and conditions" without foreigners such as yourself making it worse. Sorry if it sounds harsh.

rickair7777

US airlines don't hire pilots for language abilities, since english is the international aviation language. If you want to be a flight-attendant, a bi-lingual person can get hired specifically for routes to/from locations where their langauge is spoken. I have a friend who speaks French, she works for DAL and despite being very junior all she does is CDG turns (a few FA slots on each of those flights are reserved only for bi-lingual FA's).

To the OP... if you have right-to-work, you can get hired by US airlines. Unlike many countries they are not allowed to discriminate against foreigners who have right-to-work. I'm not sure about temporary right-to-work, they probably don't want to invest in training you if your right-to-work will expire soon. If you get permanent right to work, you'll have no problems getting a job (assuming you are competitive).

As others have mentioned, don't come here looking to tolerate bad conditions and pay in exchange for experience.

kingsnake2

Tarrant County College out of Alliance Airport can also do an F-1 visa with OPT and it is only a two year program. This could be a good hybrid between your options - a more vocationally focused, fast paced program with the benefits of a degree and F-1 visa.

https://www.tccd.edu/admission/how-t...international/
https://www.tccd.edu/academics/cours...ssional-pilot/

TiredSoul

There are many universities with aviation programs such as the University of North Dakota ( UND).
F1 Visa allows for study and study related employment.
So you could flight instruct at the university to build your time towards the ATP.
F-1 Visa does NOT allow you to apply for a green card and upon completion of your studies you’ll be expected to leave the country.
I believe only H1B Visa allow for green card application.
The Visa diversity lottery ( green card lottery) may get scrapped because of Trump. So I would apply quickly for that if I were you.