A household may share a destination while its members have different citizenships, immigration procedures and work permissions. List what each adult and child intends to do in the United States. A principal’s pending file does not authorize the whole family to move, work or study on identical terms.
Match work to the actual status
TD dependents do not receive employment authorization through TD status. Qualifying E and L spouses may be employment-authorized incident to status with the required evidence; children do not gain that permission through those dependent categories. Independent authorizations should be checked on their own terms.
Treat ages and relationships as evidence
Obtain the actual relationship and identity documents. Temporary dependent eligibility commonly requires unmarried children under 21; immigrant cases can involve fact-specific age protection. Adoption and other relationship questions need the applicable legal definition, not just an assumption based on household membership.
Coordinate arrivals and financial commitments
Confirm the admission procedure and document validity for each traveller. In immigrant derivative travel, the principal enters before or with the derivatives. Budget for a gap between planned and actual work starts, and review any Canadian obligations separately instead of assuming that a common address makes the legal outcomes the same.
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.