As far as I’m aware, a prospective US FAR121 airline only has to request records under PRIA, from previous employers. There’s no legal requirement to actually be supplied those records. If requested, a foreign company decides whether they want to furnish those records but if they don’t, it’s not held against you.

In my case, Australian privacy laws meant my previous employer couldn’t give them anything.

 

I signed something to release my training records. Who knows if they did or not.

 

To the original poster I say good luck. You will probably have more success getting any job in the US thence applying from there. Several job fairs and the concensus from UAL, Delta, UPS recruiters was to go to a regional or a supplemental and go from there.

Despite what the hiring stats say, it’s still hard to get on at one of the top 5.

 

That's correct they have to ask, but only US employers can be legally required to respond. So in fairness, the FAA doesn't block your employment based on non-return of PRIA requests.

However, some US carriers who have plenty of apps on file would rather not incur the hassle and expense (and possibly risk) associated with trying to verify overseas job performance, violations, and general background. They know how to do all that in the US, and know the relevant laws. Overseas would be much harder for them.

But I know of several majors who have definitely hired returning expats recently, personally know of several hired directly from overseas. I also know a military buddy who couldn't get a call, had to quit EK (he was over them anyway), return to the US, and get a regional job. Then he got hired by a major.

Best I can tell, YMMV.

 

How long was your buddy at a regional before he got called by a major? Was he still an FO? Would you mind sharing which regional? I’m in a somewhat similar situation. Thanks.

 

It was a while ago, a few years. I think he was there less than a year not much more. Don't recall which regional maybe CZ? I don't think that would really matter. Upgrade if you can, I've known several rusty mil (and Navy helo) guys who got called within a few months of upgrade.

 

And if you’re that over, wherever it is that you are, that’s probably going to be the quickest way back to the US and a legacy. It’s a gamble but like most of us will probably agree, the last 20 years have been a complete gamble.