Person: I am an international student from a country where the EB2 priority date is current. I am just completing a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, with applications to mathematical modeling for problems that arise in cardiovascular diseases, and also show up in aerodynamics. I submitted an EB2 NIW application (concurrent filing) in February 2020 (based on my masters degree, my publications, and letters of recommendation from some medical experts that I've never met, and a professor in my field who vouches that even without the PhD yet I have a strong profile). In my application I made arguments for national relevance based on medical importance of the work. The USCIS got my thumbprints just before the coronavirus lockdown - then they sent me a letter saying they are continuing to work on it despite the lockdown. Since I already applied for NIW, I can't get OPT. When I applied in February I was hoping to have the EAD in hand by the time I graduate, but that hasn't happened by now. I am in "pending Adjustment of status" status meanwhile, since my student status will expire. I seem to have a strong application so I think I might get the Adjustment of Status.
Question: Many opportunities in my field are restricted to US citizens and permanent residents, so until I get a GC I can't take most of those jobs - and it has only gotten worse with the coronavirus outbreak. This creates a problem since the NIW requires me to start working in that field. So once I get the EAD I plan to register my own company in the US, and under that company I will be self-employed and continue doing research in the field, without being paid by anyone. However with a PhD in Applied Mathematics, there are many employers who want me to do things like data science, machine learning, financial modeling and other such things - but they don't care about security clearance as long as I have a work permit. However these are all outside my NIW field so I have been ignoring recruiters. Is it possible for me to take a side-job in one of these things unrelated to my NIW, to actually make money, while I am self-employed for the sake of NIW using my EAD, until I get a GC?
Poor and unemployed grad student here - can't afford legal services right now. Just trying to figure out options as I am graduating. My plan is to do this until I get the GC and then I can stop being self-employed and apply to a national laboratory, medical facility or DoD-funded projects that are actually in my NIW field, since I can now get the clearance needed. Thanks!
Question: Many opportunities in my field are restricted to US citizens and permanent residents, so until I get a GC I can't take most of those jobs - and it has only gotten worse with the coronavirus outbreak. This creates a problem since the NIW requires me to start working in that field. So once I get the EAD I plan to register my own company in the US, and under that company I will be self-employed and continue doing research in the field, without being paid by anyone. However with a PhD in Applied Mathematics, there are many employers who want me to do things like data science, machine learning, financial modeling and other such things - but they don't care about security clearance as long as I have a work permit. However these are all outside my NIW field so I have been ignoring recruiters. Is it possible for me to take a side-job in one of these things unrelated to my NIW, to actually make money, while I am self-employed for the sake of NIW using my EAD, until I get a GC?
Poor and unemployed grad student here - can't afford legal services right now. Just trying to figure out options as I am graduating. My plan is to do this until I get the GC and then I can stop being self-employed and apply to a national laboratory, medical facility or DoD-funded projects that are actually in my NIW field, since I can now get the clearance needed. Thanks!
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