Foreign Pilots pathway into the US
 

Hi Gents

I have currently started flying the Airbus for a major EU airline.I am under contract with my current airline for the next 3 years. Having spent time in America on multiple occasions I really loved it.
I would really like to move to the US and fly there, as i do not plan on living in Europe for the rest of my life.
Ultimately the end goal would be to fly for a legacy carrier but I am more than happy to fly for regionals or even smaller companies to work my way up. The issue i have is that i am not a US citizen nor have any connection to the US. I am happy to convert my EASA license to an FAA, pass the relevant tests and fund it myself.

My questions are these:

1 - Is it realistic for a US airline to sponsor an EU pilot for a work visa? I know in theory it can be done, but is it a realistic option for me.

2 - Once i accumulate over 1500 hours jet time, would it be worth contacting regional and smaller airlines to see if they would hire me and sponsor me for a visa?

3 - Aside from finding a spouse, what options or pathways are open to me to flying in the US? I love flying and Im hard working, i dont mind what airline i work for as long as i can fly and work.


Grateful for any help or advise

I'm not an expert but my understanding is that in practice airline pilots don't usually qualify under the general work visa program (H1-B) because of the way it's structured. Australian citizens do frequently obtain visas and get hired by US airlines but that's under a separate visa provision applicable only to Australia.

It wouldn't hurt but I don't recall any airlines doing that (other than the Australian thing, which is pretty easy and basically automatic). The problem is the airline would have to jump through a lot of hoops, spend time and money, with no assurance or even likelihood of success. They'd probably have to document that they have a shortage of US pilot applicants at prevailing wages, which they most certainly do not.

I'll say this, most of the foreign-born pilots I've flown with at the airlines are married to Americans.

You could apply for the immigration/green card lottery, that's available to anyone with different quotas for different nationalities. I think for some nationalities the quota is low or zero, but EU people should have at least some chance.

You might also be able to find a flight school or maybe simulator training center that would sponsor you, we had a few of those back when I was an instructor. From there you'd have to work on getting a green card so you could apply freely to airlines (Tinder?).

There are quite a lot of pilots on EB-2 NIW visas. Need a certain amount of experience and stuff, there are companies specializing in those visas for pilots.

Once you make it to the States, you will absolutely care about what carrier you fly for. There are differences in contracts so one is not the same as the other BUT compared to foreign carriers the difference between U.S. carriers is less.

I wish you luck and success and it sounds like you have the determination to do what it takes to get here, but just keep in mind that once you do you will start to realize the differences between the airlines in the U.S. and that will start to become important to you.

A potential work around is to work for one of the U.S. airlines that hires foreign pilots and has global home basing. National and Western Global both fit that bill (not the greatest, I know, but pay is FAR better than EU airlines). Then spend your off days in the States. While you cannot officially live in the States, you will be away for work enough that you will not run afoul of the time limits associated with the EU visa waiver limitations. I know several American pilots who use this work around the other way too, "living" in Europe while working for a U.S. airline, and just being gone from the EU enough that they never exceed the time limits on the visa waiver. I also know of a few guys who went to work for these U.S. airlines, but on the foreign contract and staying based overseas, but then applied for a green card. I don't know how the rules work, but they did mention their lawyers had said that working for a U.S. airline, and having the ability to easily switch to a U.S. based contract, was viewed as a positive when applying for the green card. I know of one guy who did that, and as soon as he got the green card, applied to one of the U.S. legacy airlines and was hired pretty quickly.

Apparently student visas work.
Lots of people make it work, the frequencies are full of non American accents.

I’m not entirely sure what a “major airline”. in EU context means. Seeing that you mentioned a 3 year contract, I can see the draw of a permanent contract (effectively how we do things in America).

I will warn you “hard working” can be a very subjective statement. Again I can’t know what life is like at AirFrance, TAP Portugal or Austrian or wherever it is you ply your trade…….but flying for regionals CANNOT be better.

Life in America is different than how it’s portrayed on your nightly newscasts but the stereotype of a “work ya to the bone” type culture is sort of accurate in comparison to Western Europe.


Sadly that really is the only decent option. I fly with regularly with many a India and Pakistani, Korea, Taiwan born guys as well as countless native South Americans…….but they are all married. Usually it’s to someone from thier own culture/country but that spouse had the status. Many times especially with the India and Pakistani types….the spouse usually has an H1 B, which enables the spouse to work.

Hi Ezy,

None of the majors sponsor, so you need a green card. I ‘won’ my green card in the green card lottery. Each year, approx 55,000 people are granted green cards in the lottery (formally known as the Diversity Visa). Costs nothing to enter. Be aware of various services masquerading as ‘official’ sites which charge you a fee to apply.

I ended up at United, so it can be done. Best of luck!

Hello!
I’m getting my B737 time up in Europe looking towards the US, is there a master thread about the path to get there? More interested in the license transfer and recruitment process.
Polish/Canadian with a EASA license
thanks in advance!

Do you have a Green Card or any other work authorization? That’s the difficult part…

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!

No, it’s mostly just you, on this forum at least.
I suggest the OP waits three years till the next Administration.

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