A family can move together while having different immigration permissions. Prepare a separate line for each person so a principal applicant's work plan does not become an assumption about the spouse or children.
Name the intended activity
Record who hopes to work, attend school or join later, with relevant ages and current documents. Include a remote job intended to continue from the United States. Describing the activity clearly gives the reviewer a real question to assess instead of the general statement that the family will relocate.
Check permission and evidence separately
Ask what status is being considered for each person and what documents would establish it. TD does not itself authorize employment; qualifying spouses in certain other dependent categories have different rules. Avoid extending a spouse's rule to a child or relying on the principal applicant's record as everyone's proof.
Mark commitments that depend on an answer
For each lease, school payment or job change, identify the unresolved question that matters. Update the sheet when the plan changes. This is a decision aid, not a guarantee that all members qualify, arrive together or can undertake every activity they hoped to include.
Distinguish permissions and the order of immigrant entry
TD status does not authorize employment. Qualifying E and L spouses can be employment-authorized incident to status with the appropriate evidence; dependent children do not receive the spouse work permission. For an immigrant-visa family, the principal must enter before or with derivative family members. Child-age and CSPA questions still require the individual dates rather than an assumed age freeze. Eligible TD, E and L dependents may study while maintaining their status; school enrolment does not extend that status, and immigrant CSPA rules do not extend temporary dependent eligibility. The relevant dependent relationship is an eligible spouse or unmarried child under 21.
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.