A family business plan can assume work by a spouse or child that their immigration status does not authorize. Identify those activities expressly and review each person’s actual permission rather than relying on ownership or family relationships.
List every intended business role
Hypothetical example: a principal owns part of an enterprise and expects a spouse to handle customer administration and an older child to assist during breaks. Record the work, location and intended status for each person. A family contribution to the business does not itself establish employment authorization.
Apply the dependent distinctions accurately
TD does not authorize employment, including remote work while physically in the United States. Qualifying E and L spouses may be employment-authorized incident to status with appropriate documentation; an employment authorization document is not universally required for them. Children do not receive work permission solely through dependent status. TD, E and L dependents may study while maintaining applicable status.
Check individual records and dates
Study does not extend an authorized stay. Review each person’s citizenship, relationship, age and actual admission or status evidence. For immigrant plans, assess derivative eligibility and any CSPA issue individually using actual dates and visa availability; filing does not automatically freeze age. A shared company interest does not guarantee a shared immigration outcome. Temporary dependent children must generally remain unmarried and under 21; a family business or school plan cannot extend that limit.
Respect the order of immigrant entry
For an immigrant-visa family, the principal applicant must enter before or together with derivative family members. A preferred staggered move should be planned around that rule and each person’s actual documentation, not treated as an unrestricted choice of arrival order.
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.