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It's an interesting situation.

Qatar Airlines pilot requirements are ICAO ATP, which you can convert to an FAA license, or just go fly in China.

(It's more difficult to go the opposite way, from FAA to European (EASA.))

You will never hear of such a situation where the pilot is billed for ab initio training in the US because US airlines do very little such training, if any. When US airlines partner with a flight training academy, they just promise to let graduates apply. :)

Sometimes US airlines will pay for (jet) type ratings, which cost in the $20k range, and charge the pilot if they leave within a year.