I have a friend from South Africa that is a current helicopter pilot and fixed wing CFI over there single and multiengine. He has recently moved to the US and has received his FAA private license based on his South African licenses. He has the right to work in the US and is in the process of completing his CTP training so he can take the ATP written. My question is if he needs to go ahead and do the checkride and prep to get the license or if a regional will hire him and issue his ATP along with his SIC type that everyone gets as part of new hire training. It would save him quite a bit of money not to have to prep for the checkride before he goes off to whatever regional winds up hiring him. What's your take? ATP license in hand to be hired or if he meets the mins and has the written complete will they hire him?

Pretty much all regionals will hire you if you meet FW ATP mins. You'll get the ATP on your checkride.