FAA licence without US visa, Reality check!

[seatlight]

Hi guys
I am thinking about getting the process started,(converting my TC ATPL to FAA ATP), eventually hoping to get the right to work in the US.
read some of the posts in this forum, makes me feel like it's HARD to get the right to work in the US.
Just want to get a reality check here, how many people have FAA licence but not be able to get a job down south?
$ is tight , don't want to spend all the $ getting through ATP, and ended not using FAA licence forever.
don't have US passport/green card and not be able to get work visa through families sponsorship. which airline would sponsor work visa for Canadians?
cheers!

[JHR]

I did the coversion last year with the intention of going the NIW route. Family circumstances have pretty much killed that idea. I was planning to do the conversion anyway as there are lots of N registered airplanes worldwide including canada. Might be Good to have it in the back pocket one day.

[JHR]

Double

[CaptDukeNukem]

Triple

[172ReliefPilot]

"how many people have FAA licence but not be able to get a job down south?
$ is tight , don't want to spend all the $ getting through ATP, and ended not using FAA licence forever.
don't have US passport/green card and not be able to get work visa through families sponsorship. which airline would sponsor work visa for Canadians?
cheers! "

Youre asking two very important, but also two VERY DIFFERENT questions. Your biggest fish to fry is getting the right to work, which is pretty much a zero sum without some sort of sponsorship. either work based or family based. The answer is, I currently dont know of ANY airline in the states sponsoring Canadians, although Australians and Chileans are. We have one guy from AUS in my class.

The ATP license wont do anything for you if you dont have the right to work. Work on the likelihood of a visa, and then once thats obtained go for the ATP. I spent roughly $6500 USD out of pocket for the ATP, and that was WITH having the right to work. I dont know your position, but that is a lot of money for a shot in the dark.