A unique opportunity for pilots from every corner of the world to obtain U.S. legal residency (Green Card). Currently there will be a severe shortage of pilots in the US by 2023. As the demand for professional pilots continues to rise, foreign pilots holding the appropriate background may now apply for a green card for themselves and their families through the EB-2 National Interest Waiver Program.
A successful applicant must meet the following criteria:
- They will be undertaking an endeavor that has both substantial merit and national importance.
- They are well situated to advance the proposed venture; and
- It would be beneficial to the United States to waive the requirements of a job offer, and therefore no labor certification would be required.
According to immigration lawyer Moses Apsan (past president of the Federal Bar Association, New Jersey Chapter (1997-2002) “The unprecedented increasing growing need for pilots in the US has made it theoretically easier for foreign pilots to meet criteria i) and iii). In other words, so long as an applicant can prove that he/she has the skills, experience, and education the US needs to tackle its pilot shortage problem, the applicant expected to qualify for a green card without first requiring a job offer g a job offer.”
To graphically explain the pilot shortage situation in the US, reports forecast that there will be a shortage of over 12,000 pilots by 2023 and the nation will need a total of 65,000 new pilots in the next 10 years to meet the demand for air travel. Moreover, the Federal Aviation Administration predicts that the US will need to enlist 87 new airline pilots every day for the next 20 years to meet the growing need.
Several factors contribute to the pilot shortage situation in the US. Originally, it started with restrictive hiring practices, but the situation escalated as the industry found it problematic to replace their ageing pilot workforce in view of the profession’s progressively strict experience requirement.
In this climate, foreign pilots may find it easier to qualify for permanent residence in the US via an established program, nominally not used for pilots; the EB-2 National Interest Waiver Program.
A petition under the EB-2 National Interest Waiver program normally takes about 8-10 months to process. Upon being approved for the EB-2 petition, the applicant and his family will be permitted to obtain an Immigrant Visa to enter the U.S. and receive a green card to reside permanently in the country upon entrance in the U.S.
If you are a qualified pilot and would like further advice on the EB-2 National Interest Waiver program, please contact our office by clicking apsanlaw.com