Pilots Seeking US Green Cards in 2022
Due to an unprecedented pilot shortage, the demand for commercial and business pilots is outstripping the quantity in the United States, resulting in a crisis in the commercial and business aviation sector.
Green Card for Aviation Pilots
There is a great demand for pilot professionals in the United States. The country offers one of the best salaries and benefits for pilots. Even in this situation, hiring pilots is incredibly challenging for American airline companies.
There is a great number of positions to fill the deficiency of qualified professionals in the country’s aviation sector. There are several factors like increased demand for domestic and international flights, and a lack of young people joining the profession due to the high academic and licensing costs involved. Due to the lack of trained professionals available, the United States invites qualified foreign pilots to the country’s aviation market.
The following visa is available for qualified professionals in the aviation industry:
EB-2 NIW visa
The U.S. Government developed a visa program called EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) for foreign professionals who wish to contribute to the country’s labor market by working in areas of national interest. This program can be extended to pilots to encourage the arrival of qualified pilots to the United States. The EB-2 NIW visa is suitable for professional groups with outstanding experience and academic backgrounds.
The National Interest Waiver scheme waives off the requirement for a job offer which is usually essential for Green card approval. The labor department will provide authorization to employ a foreign national if the foreign national’s professional qualification benefits the U.S. Qualified professionals can submit a “self-petition” to get a green card based on their own professional experience and skills.
Eligibility:
1. Eligibility criteria under Advanced Degree:
a) Applicants require an advanced degree and must possess such a degree or its foreign equivalent
b) Supporting Documentation, such as official academic records and letters from current or former employers may be required depending on the education qualifications.
2. Eligibility criteria under Exceptional Ability:
Applicants must be able to show exceptional ability in the aviation industry and meet at least three of the criteria below:
a) Official academic record
b) Letters from current or former employers documenting at least 10 years of full-time experience
c) A license to practice profession or certification for a profession or occupation
d) Evidence that an applicant has commanded a salary for services that demonstrates exceptional ability
e) Membership in a professional association(s)
f) Recognition for achievements and significant contributions
EB2-NIW Visa Application Process:
Any foreign national with appropriate qualifications can apply for an EB2-NIW visa. The EB2-NIW visa applicant requires to fill out Form I-140 and submit all the required supporting documents along with the form. Once the application gets approval from the authorities, the candidate will be eligible for permanent residency in the United States under the National Interest Waiver scheme.
As mentioned above, the major advantage of EB2-NIW is the visa application doesn’t require a job offer and labor certificate. The Pilots Seeking US Green Cards (foreign nationals) can submit self-petitions without a sponsor. The visas are available for most countries, so there is no need to wait for the visa backlogs.
If you are interested in spending more time in the U.S., acquiring work authorization to deliver your piloting services in the U.S., and/or living in the U.S.
Please reach out instantly to The Law Offices Of Luke Bowman team to find out whether you qualify for a U.S. Green Card and/or a nonimmigrant visa (work authorization).