Carnivore, you cannot be on a company's payroll if you have no authorization to work.

Update on my situation: they decided to keep me on stipend (I work at a nonprofit). I'm going to take a huge pay cut because they cannot pay me at the same rate, but at least I'll have something come in. Once I get my approval, I can come back to my regular rate. I hope I get my permit soon, that pay cut is big. Guess I got lucky after all: this is the first time I work in a nonprofit... I probably couldn't do this type of thing at a regular company.