TD status does not authorize employment, regardless of the spouse’s education.
Assess an independent work option
A qualification may matter to another route, but that route needs its own eligibility and permission. Do not treat academic ability as current authorization.
If the review concludes the arrangement is closer to independent contracting, the household's plans may need to shift toward a different route entirely, not just a delayed TN filing. If the spouse intends to keep earning, raise it with counsel early, since an independent basis takes its own preparation time and may affect whether the move makes sense on one income. TD status permits residence and study but authorizes no employment of any kind, and remote work for Canadian clients performed while physically in the United States is still work. TD permits study but does not authorise work of any kind, and remote or unpaid activities require individual review, so a spouse cannot lawfully replace the lost income on TD status alone. Identify the spouse’s proposed customers, duties and location before relying on that income; professional presentation skills and informal family assistance are not separate work permission.