A principal applicant's job offer does not establish every family member's permissions. Record the activity each person intends to undertake and the documents relevant to their own position.
Distinguish the dependent work rules
Do not infer permission from a shared travel booking or household address. For TD, E or L dependents, assess the qualifying spouse and unmarried children under 21 individually. TD does not authorize employment; qualifying E and L spouses are authorized incident to valid qualifying status with appropriate evidence, while children do not gain work authorization through that dependent status.
Include timing and age questions
Record intended arrivals and any child-age concern for individualized assessment. For immigrant visas, the principal enters before or with derivative family members. A school admission does not establish immigration eligibility or freeze a child's age.
Track the underlying documents
Keep each person's actual notices and admission information accessible. Report changes in intended work or travel. A household planning sheet helps organize decisions but cannot replace the legal requirements for any individual. Study does not extend dependent status beyond its limits. Any immigrant child-age protection requires case-specific CSPA analysis; it does not freeze age for TD, E or L dependency. An immigrant derivative cannot enter before the principal.
What else is on your mind?
Is a matching job title enough for TN?Can years of experience replace a degree for TN?Can my own U.S. company employ me under TN?Can my spouse work if I hold TN status?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.