I’m reaching out here because I’ve hit a wall that feels insurmountable and I am looking for genuine perspective from people who might have navigated systemic barriers.

I have a Master’s in Computer Science from a European university and a research background with papers totaling over 500 citations. In my spare time, I’m a builder and I’ve developed web apps, games, and various side projects. On paper, I should have a solid career path, but my reality is the opposite.

I am currently back in my home country in the East due to circumstances I couldn't control. Despite my credentials, my degree feels useless here. I work at a decent-sized western company (fully remote), but the internal politics are volatile and I fear for my job security. More painfully, I feel a deep sense of prejudice; in daily professional conversations, I can hear the tone shift when people realize where I am based. It feels like I am watching others reap what I have sown, while my own investments in skills and projects feel futile.

The core of my problem is twofold:

    Geographic and Legal: The jobs I am actually qualified for are almost exclusively in the West, but there is no current legal path for me to migrate or secure a living there.

    The Trust Gap: Despite the citations and my portfolio, I lack the "signal" that makes international recruiters or local employers trust my expertise. It feels like I'm "cursed" by my place of birth.

I have stretched myself so thin trying to build products that don't gain traction, and I’ve reached a point where I feel like learning to code was a mistake. I love building things, but it isn’t putting food on the table or providing a future. I feel lost and, honestly, pretty devoid of hope.

For those who have been stuck in "low-trust" geographies or faced extreme systemic barriers despite having high-level skills:

How do you bridge the trust gap with Western companies when relocation isn't an option? Are there specific niches (Remote-first R&D, specialized consulting, etc.) where academic citations and a builder mindset actually carry weight?

I am looking for any genuine suggestions on how to leverage what I have to secure a life that doesn't feel impossible.