Life choice
 

Hello everybody,

I hope everyone is fine. I have a fairly important question to ask you.

I introduce myself I come from Europe and I am 24 years old.
In PPL course and I have my medical class 1 EASA UK.

I'm in a relationship for some time now with an American and so I start asking myself questions about the next of my career.
She comes from California and we are also starting to wonder if it would be interesting for me to go to California with her to live there.

We expect that in two years maybe.

What would be the path? I know that you have to finish your training, become an instructor then apply for the regionals and then hope for a position in major?

For my training is possible to do my training while coming to visit? To finish my PPL in Europe and come finish my training in California? ATP has a good school in California?

It will not be too late to apply to the Regionals at 32 years old?

Thank you all! I wish you success! ;)

It's certainly not too late to apply to a regional. A lot of foreign students train in the USA. What you'll need to determine is working rights, and whether you can secure employment without citizenship. This depends on your status (and possibly your relationship with your now-girlfriend). I've known a number of Dutch, british, French, German, and other European pilots who have come to the USA and worked. Before you get too mired in the cost and financing, find out what your work options will be.

Yes, your resident and work authorization status should be your priority.

I am from Europe myself and really, there aren't that many options to obtain the legal right to work in the US. You and your girlfriend should discuss your options. Getting married will grant you permanent resident status, first on a 2-year temporary basis and if all goes well after that, for a period of 10 years that can be renewed. The process can be daunting but it is doable. Now of course, marriage is a big decision so give it some (serious) thoughts.

Another option would be to work for a company in Europe that has the need for you to be based in the US. This is not very common, but it happens. In which case, you will have a temporary work visa which should open some doors for you down the road.