Your were a student at a major university and they didn't assist with your immigration documents? Granted, I'm from Canada but when I was in grad school I don't know anyone of the other international students who had visa issues like that, although we didn't try to get other jobs beyond school, maybe that is the issue.
The problem is that I'm too poor. A letter from my parents' bank guaranteeing $25,000 wasn't enough - the USCIS required me to have that much money in my bank account. When I was 19.
I'm now 28, and I've still never had that much money. America is only interested in welcoming rich people.