Hey.

Just wonder if having a Green Card would permit to get a pilot job after training (CFI first it seems) or employers make a difference between American and foreigners owning a Green Card ? To introduce myself a bit, I'm an 18-year old French who consider to participate DV Lottery in one or two years (assuming Trump doesn't remove it...). Sorry for the low english level, will improve it once in US for sure.

So I have several questions, if any people who wants to answer please :

1) Can I consider a pilot carrier in the US with a Green Card and then the citizenship ?

2) Once you get all your ratings and your CFI, is it " easy " to get a job as a CFI or CFI position for low timer are seldom ? By the way, is CFI the only way possible or a low timer can consider to fly a Beech 1900D (just an exemple) instead of instructing for a while ?

3) Read this forum for a few days now, and understanding (with other sources) that the decade to come will be the better decade for pilots since 50 years ? Is it true, what do you think about it ? In Europe, people are almost saying the same, except instruction is frequently made for free and there's more and more compagnies which use Pay to Fly practises... That's one of the reason to me for considering USA and Canada (but not the only).

4) Following the situation right now, a low timer who has just finished its training, begin to work as CFI, reach 1500h and all of the requirements, in how many years can he expect to be able to join a major (DAL, UAL, AA...) ?

5) Is a Bachelor's degree absolulety essential to be considered by the majors ?


Thanks for reading and sorry again for the mistakes I made. If any part is unclear, just let me know and I will try to make it clearer.

Fly safe !

The requirement is "legal right to live and work in the United States". So yes, you can work as a pilot with a I-551 (Green Card).
There are only a few jobs that you can't qualify for, mainly those that require security clearances. But 99% of jobs you're good to go.

1/ Yes, green card will work
2/ Usually one can find work as a fresh CFI. Other options are banner tow, survey, perhaps co-pilot on a private King Air, Citation class plane
3/ Yes, historic hiring for the next 12-15 years. But, it’s very much a young guy’s game as seniority is everything. The last boom like this saw many European and Canadians flying here.
4/ Hard to say, there are pilots that having been waiting for a decade without a call, others hired in a couple years. Military seems faster than civil, but that’s only a general observation. It’ll change greatly by the time you’re ready to apply.
5/ A four-year degree recognized in the US has been a hard requirement for 40 years. It will remain so at legacies for the foreseeable future, but become less so at majors (JB, Spirit, Alligent, etc). The degree has become a basic level of education in the US for many.

GF

Thanks you Dera and Gakaxy flyer for your detailed answers !

All of the above.
Diversity Lottery is exactly that, a lottery.
You can look up your country’s ‘chances’ online as the quota is per country.
Do not be surprised if it’s 1: 100,000 or more.
Not trying to dim your dreams.
By all means enroll when it’s still possible.
You could also come to the United States on a student visa and enroll in an University or College with a flying program. Then instruct there.
You could potentially have 2000+ hrs and your FAA ATP when you leave.

5/ A four-year degree recognized in the US has been a hard requirement for 40 years. It will remain so at legacies for the foreseeable future, but become less so at majors (JB, Spirit, Alligent, etc). The degree has become a basic level of education in the US for many.

GF[/QUOTE]

I have heard it a lot, that it’s almost impossible to land a job at a legacy without having a degree. But looking at the job pages I can only see DAL and Fedex really requiring a degree. Everyone else like UAL, AA, SW and UPS list it as preferred. Why don’t they list it as a hard requirement? Is there really a chance of getting hired without a bachelors? What are your thoughts or experiences about that?

They list it as "preferred" to give themselves the flexibility to hire someone THEY really want, who might not have a degree. That really means diversity picks and the children of senior managers. Also remotely possible to get hired with really rock-star aviation credentials, lots of CKA, instructor, CP kind of experience in big jets.

For average Joe Pilot, it's simply not happening at the big-six (maybe at SWA with a 2-year degree and a good resume).

: That makes sense. Thanks for the reply!