The green card lottery is the way for me at the moment. I still have some time till 1500h jet time (+/- a year), so hopping for a jackpot.
How are airlines looking at foreigners with non FAA flight time?

 

Whether it's US FAA part 121 time, or foreign equivalent is largely irrelevant to US airlines. They just care about the nature and quality of experience. Same for foreign military flight time. Obviously you need a US ATP.

The one place it would matter is for jobs involving direct-entry PIC at a 121 carrier (normally regionals)... those require prior FAA 121 time due to regulations (some 135 time also qualifies).

 

Why not just work in your own country?

US has tons of pilots, we are full

 

You won't get special consideration for having 1500 hrs 737 time. You'll be a 1800 TT (?) hr candidate. That's not competitive for a major airline job right now. Maybe with 3000 TT. That means you'll have to fly as a regional FO for at least a year. Or some other U.S. based flying. Perhaps night cargo in a King Air, or a Caravan, then a regional FO job, etc.

 

Yes, around the 1800h mark.
Thanks for the feedback!
So would it be better to get my jet time up in Europe?
I’m flying around 700h yearly so it shouldn’t take that long.

 

I don't have the knowledge level to give you valid information. I'd try contacting the regional airlines directly. That might be your best way to get your flying career started in the U.S. Of course more time matters but they also want experience in the U.S. Delaying for more time once you get to 2000-2500 hrs is pointless. WIth that total time (TT) regional airlines should probably be a possibility for you. You can also go to the big job fairs and ask the regional and major airlines directly. WAI (Women's Aviation International) has a big convention in early March every year. It's not limited to just females interested in the aviation field. You'd be able to ask people directly what they require for foreign candidates or you can contact them via LinkedIn, email, etc.

Don't think that 3,000 TT gets you the call. No one knows exactly what triggers the hiring system to select you. About a year ago American Airlines said the avg new hires experience was 4,800 TT and 1,500(?) TPIC time. It's hard to get called with 2500-3000 TT. Think of things you'd like to see on applicants resumes and that might be worth trying to emulate. They DO like 1000 hrs TPIC and the next thing they like is 500 TPIC. Those are known targets to achieve. They often aren't big fans of people who've only flown one type for 7 years or more in one seat. That used to be a cutoff, in at least one system, to not select a candidate who hadn't had any new aircraft training in the preceding 7 years.

I knew a coworker who came from overseas, had 737, A320 and A330 CA and FO experience, and he started out flying King Air 300's (350's?) night cargo to get his U.S. resume started. 12,000 TT, 11,000+ turbine (mostly jet, some turboprop), maybe 4-5000 TPIC, he jumped in at whatever level he could start flying at.

 

Well, first of all you would need to have a US ATP to even be considered in the first place.( at least $10000 US) to convert license. Second, you would need the RIGHT to work or a “green card” and the only way to get one of those is to immigrate here legally or marry an American. If you got married today It could take you almost 2 years to get the right to work/Green card we call it in the US. This is the pathway to become a NATURALIZED US citizen. They could always deny your application, if they feel it is disingenuous or you are lying. an example would be you pay someone to marry you.

Not to be disingenuous, but do you watch the news? We’re kicking illegal people out by the droves and have increased the H1 Visa price to $100,000 there’s no way we’re gonna bring in pilots. There are US citizens graduating college Flight schools right now that can’t find an entry-level job.

Just curious, what country are you from?

 

The Green card lottery for 2026 closed in 2024

 

^This

The US has been trying to slow/stop what OP is trying to do, the H1B and other budget foreign labor is wildly unpopular with ALL people here in the US, I see us cracking down on import labor.

 

Not if you have money. In that case it’s wide open!