True. If you have a green card, you should be just as employable as anyone else. No hoops to jump through.

First of all, the correct language is "permanent resident." The term "green card" is no longer used and it referred to the color of the card that PRs used to get. The only difference between a PR and a US citizen is precisely that - citizenship. A PR has all the rights and privileges of a citizen except for the right to vote.

Papa L, PM me if you need more information.

Thank God you're not a CAPTAIN on an A320! With the limited information you have been given in this thread, I have to wonder about your thought processes. I would hate to be in any airplane in which you had to make a snap decision. Get some help.
fbh

fbh, thanks for your post. I wanted to say something, but his post was so inappropriate and out of line that, for once, I could not find the proper words to describe how I felt. CAL's screening process missed and let this one get in.

Maybe I missed something. I'll clear it up...the black-face was offensive.... to me. And I did spend quite a bit of time as a Captain on the A-320, and several other large wide body aircraft. I will re-read and see if their was something that justifies that avatar, but I doubt it. It's hard to see how some wouldn't find that offensive, and if I'm the only one, it seems appropriate that Cal let one slip in. And I've nurtured many an F/O with that type of attitude, probably because guys like you won't. If the originator of this post would like to know why it might be offensive, please pm me and I'll elaborate. I've spent most of my time flying abroad and realize that cultural differences are difficult as a visitor. I'm just surprised that no one else felt obligated to tell you that black face isn't funny and won't be taken lightly if you aspire professional airline employment. Sorry if I called you an @sshole, you just acted like one posting that avatar. Listening to vgb & fbh won't help you, unless you can find an airline that condones that type of thing... trust me...it won't be easy. No one need to respond on this board. If you'd like to know why I was offended please pm me, I'll patiently explain.

One of the guys from my training class told me about a week ago, that CAL is now requiring citizenship. He tried to apply but couldn't because he's a greencard holder. About 4000 hours TT, with 2000 turboprop, and 1000 pure Turbine.

He told me it was related to the US Postal Service contract that CAL just got. Of course that begs the question, what are they going to do about their current non-citizen pilots?

Don't know if this is fact, but this is what I've heard.

Onfinal

Interesting thread, I do know that some carriers require their pilots to be US Passport Holders to participate in CRAF (Civil Reserve Air Fleet). In my experience this has been a Department of Defense rule and not air carrier specific, and only when in time of war. CAL does participate in CRAF. I am not familiar with a requirement for the USPS and that being said, UPS and FEDEX both require that the pilots they hire have not lived outside of the US for a specific amount of time for that very reason.

Regarding foreign pilots applying for positions at US carriers. America is a great nation that has trained pilots privately, professionally and militarily since I can remember. My first training base in the Air Force was at a NATO training location in North Central Texas, and the State I currently reside in is inundated with flight training schools with students from all over the globe, so I believe I can speak with some validity on this subject. Why do you think people from all over the world come to America for flight training? I think it is wonderful that people recognize that America is a wonderful place to take advantage of a democracy that allows such privileges and freedoms unlike that anywhere else in the world to come train. Good for us, good for them.

My position on hiring non citizen pilots in the US is that it is just another back door outsourcing of jobs in the U.S. This is in by no means an isolationist or discriminatory position, just fact. We have thousands of furloughed pilots in the US who are citizens with some jumping back into active duty military service to feed and medically cover their families (what about those who do not have that option), not to mention our guys and gals in the Armed Services who will be looking for jobs and lets not forget our folks at the regional & supplemental operations who are paying their dues to hopefully move on to a legacy carrier as great of an operation as CAL.

Come visit, vacation, train, whatever, but if you want to participate in employment in America and all of the other wonderful things that you can accomplish here...I welcome your application for citizenship.

Are you aware that you can serve in the military and NOT be a US citizen? There are over 60000 service members that are not citizens.

US law states that you must hold a resident alien card for 5 years prior to applying for citizenship. The law provides a few exemptions to the 5 year requirement. For example, if you are married to a citizen for three years, and your US spouse has been a US citizen for at least 3 years, the five year residency period is reduced to three years.

Legal alien residents contribute to the growth of the US economy and have every right to employment. They are taxed accordingly. Sometimes, alien residents contribute more because they appreciate what they have in the USA where many second generation and upwards Americans do not. Security clearances are the only potential hang up I see in the aviation industry. I have heard, and I may be incorrect, that a security clearance is required to handle mail.

Actually I did know that, however I do not know the exact number but if you say it is that high then I will assume you did your homework. I served with gentlemen who later became US Citizens and many others who followed during my 20+ years in the AF and I think that it is a great example of what people will and can do to become citizens. What I simply meant to convey was that while we have pilots who "are" citizens that can fill airline employment vacancies they should be considered above all else.

I have many associates who have come to America to better their lives by utilizing the very mechanisms that immigration allows for legally, and you are right that they do tend to appreciate it more when they become Naturalized Citizens (btw my wife is a naturalized citizen from EU) than some...certainly more so than the scum who steal citizenship by staying in America longer than their Visas allow or sneaking through our borders like rats in a sewer.

You are right. Come to America, come legally, participate, pay taxes, obey the laws and become a citizen.

:rolleyes:

Ahhh, Yes, but they can't pay taxes if they can't have a job.

Or does your reasoning only apply to Pilot jobs? :rolleyes:

Onfinal