F1 campus employment and EAD

[gradapplicant]

About to start the intimidating process of adjusting my status!
I am a PhD student on a valid F1 visa and I just got married. I have a 20hr/week graduate assistantship, which gives me tuition remission and a stipend. My question is, do I need to apply for EAD to keep this job, and am I allowed to continue working there while my application is being processed?

Also in terms of filling out the I-485, do people generally enter "student" as an occupation for times when they were only a student (no employment)?

Thanks!

[azblk]

No you dont need EAD to keep that job, what EAD allows you to do is to work off campus and more than 20hrs/wk if you desire. You are still on F-1 status until you adjust to green card or use advance parole if you apply for it to leave country while process pending.

[gradapplicant]

Thank you for the feedback! Under employment, do I then state "student" or "graduate assistant"?

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Also, I do plan to use advance parole. Does that mean I am better off applying for the EAD as well?

[azblk]

Thank you for the feedback! Under employment, do I then state "student" or "graduate assistant"?

- - - Updated - - -

Also, I do plan to use advance parole. Does that mean I am better off applying for the EAD as well?

I would say student - keep it simple. The extra cost of EAD is 2 passport sized pictures so I dont see why someone would not apply for it, You never know if and when you will need it.