I am on I-485 pending(E2) and use EAD working as a contractor for a major US bank that is on TARP now. The bank wants to convert me to permanent, but it fears to be punished because one of the stipulations is that the bank cannot sponsor anyone who is not citizen, nor permanent resident. I explained that I don't need sponsorship because I don’t need H1B, but it seems that the bank is still not willing to take the “risk”.
My question is: is there any written (legal) document that says that hiring a person on EAD does not violate TARP? Or is there any real world example that a bank on TARP has hired someone on EAD and how they did it? Or any suggestions that might work?
Thank you for your information and advice.