As a freelance investigative reporter, I  used to collaborate with media outlets based in the USA and Europe (Miami Herald, OCCRP) to do the kind of deep digging required to disseminate powerful cross-border investigations.
Before moving to the US, I was the Founder and Head of the North America Investigations Division in Transparency International Russia, a center for anti-corruption research. In 2019 I fled Russia due to safety issues related to my professional activity as a journalist.  I was lucky to win a fellowship that placed me at The Wall Street Journal  (NYC newsroom) for five months. Shortly after my internship, I applied for political asylum and 6 months later I submitted the Application for Employment Authorization. Until the present day, both applications are pending with an indefinite deadline. (Case and receipt numbers will be provided upon your request)
The global pandemic had a significant adverse impact on the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) operations. Specifically, USCIS Application Support Centers (ASCs) and Field Offices were closed from March until June 4 and then partially reopened.  As a result work authorization applications according to USCIS are now taking 6 months or longer in many cases leaving undocumented immigrants like me without an opportunity to provide for themselves. 

My work has been greatly impacted by reduced hours on grubhub and clients needed for web design services. Not many people are looking for my services as I don’t think a lot of people have extra money to spend.