<p>I have a dilemma.
I would like some advice, dear sir and madam!</p>
<p>But first of all, though I'm a CCC transfer student, I just want to focus on the Hotel/Hospitality Management School for once...
Well GPA & E.C.'s DO matter, you would say.
All right all right. 3.8 GPA, done with GE's and pre-reqs, English major.</p>
<p>Now that we have that out of the way....</p>
<p>I am aware that I absolutely NEED experience in work/internships..etc to be even CONSIDERED for Cornell's Hotel School.... I have worked at numerous service industries (restaurants, retail, organizations).</p>
<p>but here's the problem:</p>
<p>My family is something called "semi-permanent" residents, which means we don't have a green card yet (in the process) and the dependent child (me) cannot work legally.
I didn't decide to work until my mom became bedridden, so I picked up a waitress job that paid me in cash. I continued to work until she got better, (service, retail, restaurant..) and have a lot of experience now.</p>
<p>However, I cannot list any of the jobs I had on the Cornell application, since it is considered "under the table" federally. Or can I?</p>
<p>What should I do?!
I'm sure I at least have a CHANCE if I could tell them about my work experiences, but if I can't... I have nothing. I'd rather not apply if I had to lie on the application.</p>
<p>I know this is rather an odd and tricky question... There is no one answer... but I just want feedback from anyone that comprehends my problem and has a word of advice.</p>
<p>I don't know what advice to give regarding listing all of your experiences. There is a restaurant in my former hometown...they pay all of the part-time employees under the table...so far, they all got into college and the owners haven't experienced any trouble that I know of. One of our adult posters might be able to give you better advice :-)</p>
<p>However...I do encourage you to check out the financial aid policies Eligible</a> Citizenship Status I don't know when you plan to apply for admission or how long it takes for one to obtain a green card. Good luck with all of this!</p>
<p>You will be okay, admissions officers are smart enough to review each application individually, and not based off of each other. In other words, they will understand your situation.
Work experiences does not have to be paid either. They will not report you to the Feds if you got like a stipend for working in a restaurant over the summer. I recommend talking about you experience anyway in your application, maybe even in the essay.</p>
<p>Eligibility for Applying Employment Authorization Document:</p>
<p>Aliens in a number of non-immigrant statuses are eligible to apply for this work permit document. The general categories include:</p>
<pre><code>* Foreign Students with F-1 status seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) in a job directly related to studies.
* F-1 students looking for off-campus employment owing to severe economic hardship.
* J-2 spouses or minor children of the exchange visitors.
* Applicants of Adjustment of Status. After or at the time foreign national file for I-485 (AOS petition) may file the EAD application. This helps them to continue employment while the adjustment is pending.
* M-1 students seeking practical training after finishing their studies.
* K-1 non-immigrant fiancée of US citizens or K-2 dependent.
* L-2 visa holder.
* Asylee, Refugee, and Paroled as a Refugee.
* The aliens who have been granted status under the Family Unity Program.
</code></pre>
<p>I don't know what kind of status your family has, but if you are close in getting your green card then you would most certainly be able to get a worker's permit. I know when we were waiting for our green card many years ago, my mother worked.</p>
<p>I don't know what is needed for the Hotel school application. If it is a simple list related work experience, then I would just do that. List all of your work experience without disclosing you were illegally paid under the table.</p>
<p>Now, if you are an illegal alien, then I don't know if you would be able to go to Cornell.</p>
<p>Oldfort, thanks for your information, I'm glad I saw that list!
I'm actually under the E-1 Visa, so that's basically why I can't apply for a work permit until my green card is issued (probably not less than 5 years from now)
Both of my parents are able to work, heck that's what they're here for, but the law under E-1 Visa holders is that the dependents cannot work/receive any kind of income. I can only attend school, that's about it.</p>
<p>Dewdrop, thank you for the link, I was able to check that out for the first time.</p>
<p>Trackbabi, thank you!! I guess the advice I really wanted to hear was that I CAN tell about my experience and not get in trouble. I agree, I don't think admissions officers will scrutinize me for working under the table.</p>
<p>If anyone else has a similar immigration problem, please post or PM me! thanks!</p>