Navigating the Path to Permanent Employment for Foreign Pilots
In the realm of professional airline employment, the United States stands as a beacon of safety and prosperity for pilots, offering not only the world’s safest airline industry but also some of the highest pay rates globally. This achievement is a testament to stringent safety regulations, cutting-edge technology, and an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement.
At the heart of this success is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), playing a pivotal role in upholding strict safety standards, overseeing training programs, and monitoring aircraft maintenance. U.S. airlines contribute significantly by investing in modern, well-maintained fleets, providing pilots with reliable, state-of-the-art equipment. The compensation packages offered, including competitive salaries, enticing benefits, and a clear career path, underscore the importance of experienced and well-compensated pilots in maintaining the industry’s exemplary safety records.
How much do US pilots make in 2023?
Airline pilots in the US can make higher salaries than their counterparts in Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Cathay, Singapore, and so on. Just as an example, a current contract pay-rates tentative agreement (TA) finalized by United Airlines, boasts the following hourly rates for each pilot, depending on his/her position, aircraft and years of service:
(information valid for November 14, 2023)
From the tables above, you can summarize, that when second year First Officer flying a B737 for United Airlines gets an average line of 88 hours, he would het paid $167.57 USD x 88 = $14,746.16 USD per month. An FO in United can currently upgrade to a Captain after just 1-2 years of service. This means that the same First Officer, after an upgrade, on year 3 (starts immediately after serving for 2 years) will be paid $315.65 per flight hour, for 88 hours = $27,777.20 USD per month. Needless to say that more senior pilots flying wide-body aircraft, like B787, may elect to fly up to 100 hours per month, thus crediting over 130 hours, and earn a whopping $56,835 USD each month, for a total of $682,000 USD per year!
Same approximate pay-rates apply to most other major US airlines, such as Delta, American, Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, etc.
Unlocking the Path to Permanent Employment in the US for a Foreign Pilot
Many newly-minted, graduating from the integrated initial flight training and internship programs foreign pilots (including Indian pilots) face the challenge of transitioning from a limited 24-month internship on the F-1 visa to securing permanent employment authorization in the United States. The coveted solution lies in the EB-1 visa program, specifically designed for individuals with exceptional skills and abilities, including foreign pilots seeking employment in the U.S.
The EB-1 visa, or Employment-Based First Preference Visa, opens doors for foreign pilots with exceptional skills and achievements to establish a permanent career in the U.S. To qualify, pilots must meet specific criteria, demonstrating exceptional ability, international recognition, sustained acclaim, and a commitment to continued work in the field.
So, what is this “Special” or “Exceptional” ability?
Department of State, which grants the EB-1, requires that foreign pilots showcase a specific record of achievements, including flight school awards, excellent flight instructor references, authoring publications, and more. Applicants must provide evidence of recognition for their skills and contributions to the aviation industry. Pilots must also demonstrate that their accomplishments have resulted in a certain degree of national or international acclaim, substantiated by media coverage, speaking engagements, or contributions to aviation-related events. Applicants for the EB-1 must show their intent to continue working in the United States in their area of expertise, typically by securing employment with a U.S. airline or aviation organization.
Qualifying for EB-1: Practical Steps and tips for Foreign Pilots
Foreign pilots can successfully apply for the EB1 visa and get their US Permanent Residency and employment permit, followed by work in the major US airlines, stemming from this position job security, high earnings and prestigious social status. But what would you need in order to qualify?
Collect multiple reference letters.
- Instructor reference letters: If you are doing well during your flight training, ask your instructors (you will probably have several – ask all of them!) for a short reference letter, which would commend you on your achievements and praise you for excellent subject knowledge, lesson preparedness and natural piloting abilities. You don’t have to be “amazing” – just doing well, or “above average” should be enough for most of your instructors to give you a dazzling reference letter. Save all the letters and file them with immigration when you apply for the EB-1. If instructors are busy, instead of asking them to make-up a letter, have a letter ready-printed and just give it to them to sign.
- School president reference letter: even more weight would carry a letter from a school president or director. Towards the end of your flight training phase, pop into his/her office and ask to sign a student reference letter, stating how good of a student you were. And, towards the end of your internship as a flight instructor, ask him/her to sign your employment reference letter, stating what a great flight instructor you turned out to be.
- Employer reference letters: after you get the letters from the school president, ensure to get reference letters from your employer (Global Air BVI) – an internship provider which is built into most of our integrated programs.
- Reference letter from a US Airline Captain: it would be extremely helpful for your EB-1 application to present the immigration officer with a reference letter from your career guidance consultant at Aerocadet. Remember – most of our consultants are active and current airline captains in the major US airlines. A letter from one of them could make a big difference in the outcome of your application.
Make useful contributions to online and press publications.
- Dont just do your “9-to-5” flight instructor job, and go home. Doing the bare minimum is not going to get you far in your career. Instead, spend at least 2-3 hours per week writing useful articles on the popular self-publishing platforms, such as Quora, Blogspot and so on. You can present links and printed-out discussions that you have authored to the immigration officer upon application for EB-1.
- Write letters with articles to the editors of the popular aviation magazines, such as Aviation Week & Space Technology, AOPA Pilot, Flying, Air & Space Magazine, Plane & Piloting so on. In case your letter/s is/are published, you can claim to be a published author in a major US aviation publication. That’s a big deal!
Volunteer.
- Volunteering is a big thing in the US! Volunteer experience is appreciated not only by the US immigration, but also by the US airlines. If you volunteer your time and expertise (as a pilot and a flight instructor) in some professional organization, such as AOPA, or simply volunteer as a tutor and a mentor to the new students at your school or even local flying club adjacent to your school, you can log your volunteer hours and present them as evidence of extra-curricular activities during your EB-1 application. Of course, make sure to document your volunteer work and get it mentioned in the instructor or school president reference letters.
- Want to go above and beyond? You can! Volunteering does not need to be limited to aviation only. You can also volunteer in the local charity organizations, such as hospitals, dog shelters, “habitat for humanity” builders and so on. All this volunteer time can be documented and presented as a sign of an excellent character upon your EB-1 application.
EB-1 Visa Application Process
How, how to start your application? The application process involves filing Form I-140, supported by substantial evidence of the pilot’s extraordinary ability. An immigration attorney is recommended to guide through the process.
- Filing Form I-140:
- Prospective employer (airline) files Form I-140 on behalf of the foreign pilot, outlining the job offer.
- Evidence Submission:
- Provide substantial evidence supporting eligibility, including documentation of extraordinary ability, international recognition, and sustained acclaim in the aviation industry.
- Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing:
- After Form I-140 approval, choose to adjust status or go through consular processing to obtain lawful permanent resident status (Green Card).
- Employment with a U.S. Airline:
- Secure employment with a U.S. airline, contingent on appropriate FAA licenses and certifications to maintain EB-1 status. (Aerocadet can help you with the application process and interview preparation for employment with the US airlines).
What are the chances?
If you study and work hard, display high level of professionalism during your training and internship phases, go above and beyond, impress your instructors and peers, and follow all the above recommendations, there is a good chance that you will be able to qualify for the EB-1. Of course, we, at Aerocadet, are not immigration attorneys, so we can not give you an official immigration advise. However, properly certified immigration attorneys – can. So, we recommend that you always contact a properly certified attorney for the official advise on the EB-1 qualification and application process. Such professional will make your application (and appeals, if needed) process faster, easier and increase chances of success.
Stories of Success
Want to see success stories? One of our foreign student graduates, Pavel Astashkin, who is currently working as a B777 FO for United Airlines, has kindly volunteered his testimony video through Aerocadet Facebook video channel here >>>