Former Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili, who has recently been living in New York, applied for the U.S. work visa, ITAR-TASS reported.
Saakashvili spoke to NY Times in an interview, where he said he's living a "normal life" - goes to cafes, restaurants, bars and cinemas, visits theater and likes to ride his bike.
The newspaper said Saakashvili was in the process of changing his tourist status there for a work visa.
"For now Mr. Saakashvili is writing a memoir, delivering "very well-paid" speeches, helping start up a Washington-based think tank and visiting old boosters like Senator John McCain and Victoria Nuland, the assistant secretary of state," according to the newspaper.
In New York, Saakashvili lives in an apartment of his uncle, located in one of the skyscrapers in the bohemian neighborhood of Brooklyn Williamsburg. He is not poor, but the cost of living is very high in Williamsburg, according to the ex-president.
Recently Saakashvili hosted at his home the former CIA Director David Petraeus, and is waiting for the former president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy at the end of this month.
Saakashvili is a graduate of New York's Columbia University. In 1994, he received a Master's degree in Law from the university.