AC Pilots leaving to the US?

[schnitzel2k3]

For your information I am in the process with a lawyer; for the new NIW that is applicable to pilots. At the moment it takes up to 18 months to complete the entire process (including a medical exam) then you get the green card. No need a job offer but a FAA ATP and extensive flying experience on jets. My lawyer got about 3000 applications/requests from Canadian pilots but they have selected about 220 pilots with the appropriate experience to pursue the application.

I've seen this "new" NIW mentioned in several places on this forum and elsewhere but nowhere else. Do you have more information on it?

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/explore-my- ... al-ability

[a220hereicome]

Major US airlines are including in their quarterly SEC filings that pilot supply chain issues are and will continue to negatively impact schedule integrity and growth. They are planting the seeds.

My guess is that the US will start by pressing ICAO for an Age 67 limit. Beyond that, they will press to increase the pilot supply chain by creating a facility within the US immigration system for either temporary or permanent resident rights for qualified pilots (either with or without an accompanying offer of employment).

Just watch.

Circle back in another year.

[flying4dollars]

Heard a story that at least 10 pilots from AC are in the process setting up working permits to fly for majors in the US, with 10 more behind? Is there any truth to this?

No

I've flown with 3 guys already in the process. One has an offer from a US major. It is indeed happening.

[Ash Ketchum]

Heard a story that at least 10 pilots from AC are in the process setting up working permits to fly for majors in the US, with 10 more behind? Is there any truth to this?

No

I've flown with 3 guys already in the process. One has an offer from a US major. It is indeed happening.

All EB-2 NIW visas or do they have family ties/spouse from the US?

[flying4dollars]

No

I've flown with 3 guys already in the process. One has an offer from a US major. It is indeed happening.

All EB-2 NIW visas or do they have family ties/spouse from the US?

One has dual, the other two do not and are mostly through the process. That's about all I know. Costly process for a family that's for sure.

[Arnie Pye]

By the time you convert your license etc it can cost you close to $30k. It's a big commitment.

[FL030]

That's like 2 weeks salary if you make it though.

[Oxi]

787 FO went to Fedex (last year)
737 FO went to United (last month)

both had ability to work in the United States.

However many current Air Canada pilots have all their FAA ATP/Airman Certificates and just need a "green card" or such to actually work. Probably 20-30 pilots are actively doing the immigration/lawyer route to have that ability

[Ash Ketchum]

787 FO went to Fedex (last year)
737 FO went to United (last month)

both had ability to work in the United States.

However many current Air Canada pilots have all their FAA ATP/Airman Certificates and just need a "green card" or such to actually work. Probably 20-30 pilots are actively doing the immigration/lawyer route to have that ability

Yup, I have all my licenses and type ratings converted to FAA and all ready to go but still short on the 10 year/5000 hour requirement for the EB-2 NIW otherwise I would be in the process as well.

[Mike1985]

787 FO went to Fedex (last year)
737 FO went to United (last month)

both had ability to work in the United States.

However many current Air Canada pilots have all their FAA ATP/Airman Certificates and just need a "green card" or such to actually work. Probably 20-30 pilots are actively doing the immigration/lawyer route to have that ability

Yup, I have all my licenses and type ratings converted to FAA and all ready to go but still short on the 10 year/5000 hour requirement for the EB-2 NIW otherwise I would be in the process as well.

Where is the requirement mentioned? that specific 10 year/ 5000 hours? It is both 10 years and 5000 hours. Can you please elaborate. Thanks.

[Arnie Pye]

787 FO went to Fedex (last year)
737 FO went to United (last month)

both had ability to work in the United States.

However many current Air Canada pilots have all their FAA ATP/Airman Certificates and just need a "green card" or such to actually work. Probably 20-30 pilots are actively doing the immigration/lawyer route to have that ability

Yup, I have all my licenses and type ratings converted to FAA and all ready to go but still short on the 10 year/5000 hour requirement for the EB-2 NIW otherwise I would be in the process as well.

Where is the requirement mentioned? that specific 10 year/ 5000 hours? It is both 10 years and 5000 hours. Can you please elaborate. Thanks.

I spoke with an immigration lawyer. The NIW basically says that you have exceptional skills and experience that are not found in the US market. There is no hard and fast rule but the people who are successfully getting through are all around the 10-15 year experience level and all have around 10,000 hours. I doubt anyone with 5000 hours would be making it through unless they were a military test pilot. Depends on who's desk your file lands on. If you had 20,000 hours but the Immigration guy's wife ran away with a pilot, good luck.

[Ash Ketchum]

787 FO went to Fedex (last year)
737 FO went to United (last month)

both had ability to work in the United States.

However many current Air Canada pilots have all their FAA ATP/Airman Certificates and just need a "green card" or such to actually work. Probably 20-30 pilots are actively doing the immigration/lawyer route to have that ability

Yup, I have all my licenses and type ratings converted to FAA and all ready to go but still short on the 10 year/5000 hour requirement for the EB-2 NIW otherwise I would be in the process as well.

Where is the requirement mentioned? that specific 10 year/ 5000 hours? It is both 10 years and 5000 hours. Can you please elaborate. Thanks.

I believe it's both. They also mentioned that they ideally want to see candidates with above average pay compared to other pilots in the industry, membership in a professional association/union, aviation degree/diploma, and professional industry publications. All of these aren't of course required but I think they need at least 3-4 of them to make the case viable. The 10 year/5000 hour rule is what that law firm in particular put their lower limit as they have a good track record of success. I spoke with other law firms that said I would get in with my existing stats however these were not very reputable and had no prior cases with pilots.

[Jetlifer]

Maybe this is a stupid question.. but I’m at a loss here.

Explain to me how, if you’re a nurse or a doctor.. you can go south of the boarder with virtually no issues. Didn’t NAFTA open that door for professionals? Are we not professionals?

What am I missing? Why are we splitting hairs on a NIW .. or marrying Americans so we can find a livable wage that’s in line with the great pilot shortage of our age.

Obviously this is not the case.. my question is why isisnt it?

[Ash Ketchum]

Maybe this is a stupid question.. but I’m at a loss here.

Explain to me how, if you’re a nurse or a doctor.. you can go south of the boarder with virtually no issues. Didn’t NAFTA open that door for professionals? Are we not professionals?

What am I missing? Why are we splitting hairs on a NIW .. or marrying Americans so we can find a livable wage that’s in line with the great pilot shortage of our age.

Obviously this is not the case.. my question is why isisnt it?

The TN visa (NAFTA) has a specific list of occupations which qualify. Pilot is not on that list, why it isn't I have no idea but could be because back when the list was made there was no pilot shortage in the US.

[C-GGGQ]

Maybe this is a stupid question.. but I’m at a loss here.

Explain to me how, if you’re a nurse or a doctor.. you can go south of the boarder with virtually no issues. Didn’t NAFTA open that door for professionals? Are we not professionals?

What am I missing? Why are we splitting hairs on a NIW .. or marrying Americans so we can find a livable wage that’s in line with the great pilot shortage of our age.

Obviously this is not the case.. my question is why isisnt it?

The TN visa (NAFTA) has a specific list of occupations which qualify. Pilot is not on that list, why it isn't I have no idea but could be because back when the list was made there was no pilot shortage in the US.

This, but also we’re seeing companies hire nurses on eb3 visas (green cards) and not just tn visas. They’re willing to sponsor (as a TN is a non immigrant visa) so why aren't airlines willing to sponsor?

[172ReliefPilot]

I highly caution anyone wanting to go through the NIW route. Lawyers will take your money for the pipe dream of being able to help get you a visa. Your best bet is through family immigration for the green card. Not to mention, should there be a flip to a republican president, house and senate in 2024, the US is on course to really tighten the belt on immigration.

A lot of talk about the NIW, but not the best results. but, if you have 50+K us to throw at it, go for it.

[Tavpi]

I highly caution anyone wanting to go through the NIW route. Lawyers will take your money for the pipe dream of being able to help get you a visa. Your best bet is through family immigration for the green card. Not to mention, should there be a flip to a republican president, house and senate in 2024, the US is on course to really tighten the belt on immigration.

A lot of talk about the NIW, but not the best results. but, if you have 50+K us to throw at it, go for it.

1) what stats do you have to back up the lack of success claims?
2) It doesn't cost that much, looking at about 25k cdn

[JHR]

It is nowhere near $50K and it is proving very successful for candidates with good experience

[Jetlifer]

Maybe this is a stupid question.. but I’m at a loss here.

Explain to me how, if you’re a nurse or a doctor.. you can go south of the boarder with virtually no issues. Didn’t NAFTA open that door for professionals? Are we not professionals?

What am I missing? Why are we splitting hairs on a NIW .. or marrying Americans so we can find a livable wage that’s in line with the great pilot shortage of our age.

Obviously this is not the case.. my question is why isisnt it?

The TN visa (NAFTA) has a specific list of occupations which qualify. Pilot is not on that list, why it isn't I have no idea but could be because back when the list was made there was no pilot shortage in the US.

I feel like this is the question we should all be asking.. why isn't it a listed occupation?

We have lobby groups on the hill do we not? .. ALPA etc..

If graphic designers and dairy lab technicians can qualify, I see no reason we cannot? Unless there’s more at play here?

Can we be added to the occupation list? Or is it too little.. too late?

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Yup

[co-joe]

...
We have lobby groups on the hill do we not? .. ALPA etc..

...

ALPA USA has been very vocal against allowing immigrant pilots. They always reiterate that there is no pilot shortage, only a pay shortage in the US.

[Jetlifer]

...
We have lobby groups on the hill do we not? .. ALPA etc..

...

ALPA USA has been very vocal against allowing immigrant pilots. They always reiterate that there is no pilot shortage, only a pay shortage in the US.

I would agree with the approach of ALPA on the financial aspect. However, the thing that’s missing in that argument would be opening it to a global market would drive wages up not down. Reason being, of the door was to open.. we’d all flock south of the boarder.

In response Canadian carriers would have to raise wages exponentially higher to attract talent back.

Within a few years wages could be higher in Canada.. which would then force a hike on wages in the states, and so on and so forth until the pilot market finds equilibrium.

The open market is a good thing.. what we have now is artificial market bubbles, and a rigged economic system.

We need to let the supply and demand curve run its course, and ALPA would still get those wages up.

[Dash.Trash]

...
We have lobby groups on the hill do we not? .. ALPA etc..

...

ALPA USA has been very vocal against allowing immigrant pilots. They always reiterate that there is no pilot shortage, only a pay shortage in the US.

ALPA International is not against Canadian pilots legally immigrating to work in the US. What they are against is visas that are tied to a specific employer and temporary foreign workers. They are against employer sponsored visas because the company can threaten to pull pilots visas if they vote a certain way, or can cause pilots to make unsafe decisions out of fear of having their visa pulled.

The US could absorb every Canadian ATPL-rated pilot and it would barely make a dent in the shortage of crews they need over the next decade.

And before you ask for a source, it’s straight from the ALPA International Presidents mouth at one of the merger roadshows.

[Ash Ketchum]

I highly caution anyone wanting to go through the NIW route. Lawyers will take your money for the pipe dream of being able to help get you a visa. Your best bet is through family immigration for the green card. Not to mention, should there be a flip to a republican president, house and senate in 2024, the US is on course to really tighten the belt on immigration.

A lot of talk about the NIW, but not the best results. but, if you have 50+K us to throw at it, go for it.

I highly caution anyone wanting information to trust an anonymous post from a Cessna 172 Relief Pilot

I would contact directly either:

https://agimmigration.law/.well-known/c ... ur-team%2F

Or

https://harveylawcorporation.com/eb-2-niw-program/

Both have a 90 plus percentage approval rate and it is NOT even close to $50k. Try 20% of that...

It's happening and pilots are getting approved. These lawyers are overloaded with pilots trying to escape. That is one thing, be patient because with so many clients you have to wait your turn...

The thing is they want minimum 5k hours and 10 years total pilot work experience for those two law firms which I guess is why the approval rate is so high. I think that many EB-2 NIW hopeful pilots in Canada have less than that. I know for myself personally, I will probably be close to the left seat at AC by the time I reach that milestone and would be less motivated to get the ball rolling at that point than I am now.

[flyingfool]

I highly caution anyone wanting to go through the NIW route. Lawyers will take your money for the pipe dream of being able to help get you a visa. Your best bet is through family immigration for the green card. Not to mention, should there be a flip to a republican president, house and senate in 2024, the US is on course to really tighten the belt on immigration.

A lot of talk about the NIW, but not the best results. but, if you have 50+K us to throw at it, go for it.

I highly caution anyone wanting information to trust an anonymous post from a Cessna 172 Relief Pilot

I would contact directly either:

https://agimmigration.law/.well-known/c ... ur-team%2F

Or

https://harveylawcorporation.com/eb-2-niw-program/

Both have a 90 plus percentage approval rate and it is NOT even close to $50k. Try 20% of that...

It's happening and pilots are getting approved. These lawyers are overloaded with pilots trying to escape. That is one thing, be patient because with so many clients you have to wait your turn...

The thing is they want minimum 5k hours and 10 years total pilot work experience for those two law firms which I guess is why the approval rate is so high. I think that many EB-2 NIW hopeful pilots in Canada have less than that. I know for myself personally, I will probably be close to the left seat at AC by the time I reach that milestone and would be less motivated to get the ball rolling at that point than I am now.

Of course they want the experience

Any profession does

These are the guys that will be the trainers, line indoc, checkers, etc

A critical piece to any airline

And why it will be catastrophic to the Canadian airline industry. Brain drain is not good

Hopefully Canadian airlines realize this before it is too late and start paying North American rates