Are H-1B’s an option for FOs In US regionals?
03-06-2020, 10:39 AM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2020
Posts: 1
Are H-1B’s an option for FOs In US regionals?
Hi All,
Does anyone know whether the regional airlines sponsor non-US citizens for first-officers using H-1B sponsorship?
I’m a CRJ Captain with a regional airline with ~2,500 hours – and not a U.S. Citizen nor a U.S. permanent resident.
I am currently authorized to work under a student F-1 visa status. I studied and was an instructor in an accredited R-ATP U.S. university – and have been living and studying in the U.S. for 9 years. My student visa expires next year and I am starting to look for employment under H-1B Visa status – which requires sponsorship by a U.S. Based employer.
As a non-US citizen I consider it an honor and privilege to fly for a U.S. based company, and know that many U.S. pilots also work for international airlines – so it could be this is reciprocal .
Immigration rules require I obtain H-1B sponsorship from my employer if I am to continue to fly in the US.
1) Is anyone aware of U.S. based companies that sponsor international pilots for First Officer or Captain roles?
2) As H-1B’s are frequently used in other industries, does anyone know of specific policy and/or precedents that prevents this from happening for the airlines?
Any information on this topic would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards and thanks in advance.
funpilot
Does anyone know whether the regional airlines sponsor non-US citizens for first-officers using H-1B sponsorship?
I’m a CRJ Captain with a regional airline with ~2,500 hours – and not a U.S. Citizen nor a U.S. permanent resident.
I am currently authorized to work under a student F-1 visa status. I studied and was an instructor in an accredited R-ATP U.S. university – and have been living and studying in the U.S. for 9 years. My student visa expires next year and I am starting to look for employment under H-1B Visa status – which requires sponsorship by a U.S. Based employer.
As a non-US citizen I consider it an honor and privilege to fly for a U.S. based company, and know that many U.S. pilots also work for international airlines – so it could be this is reciprocal .
Immigration rules require I obtain H-1B sponsorship from my employer if I am to continue to fly in the US.
1) Is anyone aware of U.S. based companies that sponsor international pilots for First Officer or Captain roles?
2) As H-1B’s are frequently used in other industries, does anyone know of specific policy and/or precedents that prevents this from happening for the airlines?
Any information on this topic would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards and thanks in advance.
funpilot
03-06-2020, 11:42 AM
#2
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2019
Posts: 91
Originally Posted by funpilot
Hi All,
Does anyone know whether the regional airlines sponsor non-US citizens for first-officers using H-1B sponsorship?
I’m a CRJ Captain with a regional airline with ~2,500 hours – and not a U.S. Citizen nor a U.S. permanent resident.
I am currently authorized to work under a student F-1 visa status. I studied and was an instructor in an accredited R-ATP U.S. university – and have been living and studying in the U.S. for 9 years. My student visa expires next year and I am starting to look for employment under H-1B Visa status – which requires sponsorship by a U.S. Based employer.
As a non-US citizen I consider it an honor and privilege to fly for a U.S. based company, and know that many U.S. pilots also work for international airlines – so it could be this is reciprocal .
Immigration rules require I obtain H-1B sponsorship from my employer if I am to continue to fly in the US.
1) Is anyone aware of U.S. based companies that sponsor international pilots for First Officer or Captain roles?
2) As H-1B’s are frequently used in other industries, does anyone know of specific policy and/or precedents that prevents this from happening for the airlines?
Any information on this topic would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards and thanks in advance.
funpilot
Does anyone know whether the regional airlines sponsor non-US citizens for first-officers using H-1B sponsorship?
I’m a CRJ Captain with a regional airline with ~2,500 hours – and not a U.S. Citizen nor a U.S. permanent resident.
I am currently authorized to work under a student F-1 visa status. I studied and was an instructor in an accredited R-ATP U.S. university – and have been living and studying in the U.S. for 9 years. My student visa expires next year and I am starting to look for employment under H-1B Visa status – which requires sponsorship by a U.S. Based employer.
As a non-US citizen I consider it an honor and privilege to fly for a U.S. based company, and know that many U.S. pilots also work for international airlines – so it could be this is reciprocal .
Immigration rules require I obtain H-1B sponsorship from my employer if I am to continue to fly in the US.
1) Is anyone aware of U.S. based companies that sponsor international pilots for First Officer or Captain roles?
2) As H-1B’s are frequently used in other industries, does anyone know of specific policy and/or precedents that prevents this from happening for the airlines?
Any information on this topic would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards and thanks in advance.
funpilot
05-16-2020, 12:35 PM
#5
New Hire
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Posts: 9
I was on the same boat few years ago. I was on H1B with multiple university programs before moved onto my current company. I know some university programs like UND and Riddle will sponsor H1B for CFIs; and Riddle has its own pathway for their CFIs to get H1B and eventually the Green Card. OPT can get you couple years of fun flying at regionals, but at the end of day you kinda have to ask yourself what do you want at the end of this OPT? Some companies might sponsor H1B, but most of them won’t sponsor Green Card, then what after H1B/OPT? Will you be ok to pack everything and go home at the end, or lucky to find someone your love and get marry before your time is up?
I left the university program when I had my 1,500 and ATP and went work a much smaller flight school elsewhere as they promised to sponsor my Green Card, even I had more than enough time to get hired by regionals, I know as long as I can stay and work through the process, I can have anything I want at the end, even I may not be able to fly something fancy with a cool uniforms for now.
From my observations before the pandemic, most of the regionals will take OPT, but when OPT is over you have to figure your way to be legal without their sponsorship unless you are Australian nationals which they will sponsor you E3 visa for couple more years until you reached your time limit on E3, but not for Green Card. Skywest, Envoy, and Express Jets also sponsor E3, but you have to be Australian. Air Wisconsin and Cape will sponsor H1B, and Cape has done the Green Card for their pilots in the pass.
With the pandemic I doubt anyone will be hiring foreigners now, your best bet will probably be the small flight school that’s either had difficult time finding CFIs or universities that actually will sponsor H1B. It’s very tricky to get H1B theses days as the demands are so highly due to a lot of H1Bs (70% of annual cap) goes to IT companies that employees Indian nationals...If you aren’t lucky to win H1B lottery, you can always start with the university flight school as the university sponsored based H1Bs are cap exempt from the lottery, which it will buy you more time to look into companies that will sponsor you Green Card.
H1B job also requires at least bachelor degree in the filled you studied, which I assuming most of you on OPT were studying in aviation related degree and will not have issues. Best luck to all of you out there and feel free to PM me if you have any questions
I left the university program when I had my 1,500 and ATP and went work a much smaller flight school elsewhere as they promised to sponsor my Green Card, even I had more than enough time to get hired by regionals, I know as long as I can stay and work through the process, I can have anything I want at the end, even I may not be able to fly something fancy with a cool uniforms for now.
From my observations before the pandemic, most of the regionals will take OPT, but when OPT is over you have to figure your way to be legal without their sponsorship unless you are Australian nationals which they will sponsor you E3 visa for couple more years until you reached your time limit on E3, but not for Green Card. Skywest, Envoy, and Express Jets also sponsor E3, but you have to be Australian. Air Wisconsin and Cape will sponsor H1B, and Cape has done the Green Card for their pilots in the pass.
With the pandemic I doubt anyone will be hiring foreigners now, your best bet will probably be the small flight school that’s either had difficult time finding CFIs or universities that actually will sponsor H1B. It’s very tricky to get H1B theses days as the demands are so highly due to a lot of H1Bs (70% of annual cap) goes to IT companies that employees Indian nationals...If you aren’t lucky to win H1B lottery, you can always start with the university flight school as the university sponsored based H1Bs are cap exempt from the lottery, which it will buy you more time to look into companies that will sponsor you Green Card.
H1B job also requires at least bachelor degree in the filled you studied, which I assuming most of you on OPT were studying in aviation related degree and will not have issues. Best luck to all of you out there and feel free to PM me if you have any questions
05-16-2020, 01:41 PM
#6
Don't get weekends off
Joined APC: Sep 2015
Posts: 158
Originally Posted by Bmaggiori
I think Air Wisconsin have a sponsor program . . .
05-17-2020, 06:41 AM
#7
All is fine at .79
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Position: Paahlot
Posts: 4,082
I’m surprised you got as far as you did, CRJ captain on an F-1 visa.
The Trump administration have had their sights on the H1B program from the beginning.
Expect quotas to reduce even further for next year.
This COVID thing probably killed your chances.
The Trump administration have had their sights on the H1B program from the beginning.
Expect quotas to reduce even further for next year.
This COVID thing probably killed your chances.
05-17-2020, 08:53 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2018
Posts: 109
Originally Posted by funpilot
Hi All,
Does anyone know whether the regional airlines sponsor non-US citizens for first-officers using H-1B sponsorship?
I’m a CRJ Captain with a regional airline with ~2,500 hours – and not a U.S. Citizen nor a U.S. permanent resident.
I am currently authorized to work under a student F-1 visa status. I studied and was an instructor in an accredited R-ATP U.S. university – and have been living and studying in the U.S. for 9 years. My student visa expires next year and I am starting to look for employment under H-1B Visa status – which requires sponsorship by a U.S. Based employer.
As a non-US citizen I consider it an honor and privilege to fly for a U.S. based company, and know that many U.S. pilots also work for international airlines – so it could be this is reciprocal .
Immigration rules require I obtain H-1B sponsorship from my employer if I am to continue to fly in the US.
1) Is anyone aware of U.S. based companies that sponsor international pilots for First Officer or Captain roles?
2) As H-1B’s are frequently used in other industries, does anyone know of specific policy and/or precedents that prevents this from happening for the airlines?
Any information on this topic would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards and thanks in advance.
funpilot
Does anyone know whether the regional airlines sponsor non-US citizens for first-officers using H-1B sponsorship?
I’m a CRJ Captain with a regional airline with ~2,500 hours – and not a U.S. Citizen nor a U.S. permanent resident.
I am currently authorized to work under a student F-1 visa status. I studied and was an instructor in an accredited R-ATP U.S. university – and have been living and studying in the U.S. for 9 years. My student visa expires next year and I am starting to look for employment under H-1B Visa status – which requires sponsorship by a U.S. Based employer.
As a non-US citizen I consider it an honor and privilege to fly for a U.S. based company, and know that many U.S. pilots also work for international airlines – so it could be this is reciprocal .
Immigration rules require I obtain H-1B sponsorship from my employer if I am to continue to fly in the US.
1) Is anyone aware of U.S. based companies that sponsor international pilots for First Officer or Captain roles?
2) As H-1B’s are frequently used in other industries, does anyone know of specific policy and/or precedents that prevents this from happening for the airlines?
Any information on this topic would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards and thanks in advance.
funpilot
Marry an American girl. All your problems will go away.
06-04-2021, 02:37 AM
#10
New Hire
Joined APC: May 2021
Posts: 1
same situation
Hey, I am in a same situation right now
Can I be of contact?
I wanna ask you some questions if you don't mind
[email protected]
Can I be of contact?
I wanna ask you some questions if you don't mind
[email protected]
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