While I see where the USCIS is coming from, I am puzzled by this requirement - the LORs from the "independent sources". My understanding is that those letters have to be from people who don't know you personally but can attest to the importance of your work. Great idea, but how do I suppose to know who those people are? I mean, Dr X may have been really inspired by my biosensor idea but he would not normally convey this back to me (in the majority of cases). To the contrary, those people who cited my work may have been the ones who "just found a good manuscript to cite" without giving it too much thought or even considering it very helpful. Hence, my questions are:
1. How are we supposed to identify (and approach) the "independent sources" that can attest to the value of the applicant's work?
2. Are those letters a must have?
3. How about "taking a shortcut" and asking my Boss for an "independent" LOR from someone he/she knows? Please don't throw rocks at me for "cheating the system", I am the one who is trying to do everything right but sometimes it seems just not feasible if not impossible.
Thanks for your input, I truly appreciate it.
1. How are we supposed to identify (and approach) the "independent sources" that can attest to the value of the applicant's work?
2. Are those letters a must have?
3. How about "taking a shortcut" and asking my Boss for an "independent" LOR from someone he/she knows? Please don't throw rocks at me for "cheating the system", I am the one who is trying to do everything right but sometimes it seems just not feasible if not impossible.
Thanks for your input, I truly appreciate it.