TD does not authorize employment. Describe the actual work and location rather than relying on a family-help or unpaid label.
Review the spouse’s activity separately
An eligible spouse or unmarried child under 21 may seek TD status, which permits study but not work. The principal’s TN classification does not authorize a spouse to provide ongoing services to the project. A Canadian customer or payment account also does not itself authorize work performed in the United States.
Households in this position should also consider whether a second adult holds qualifications supporting an independent route, which would give the family a second basis rather than a single point of failure. Gather marriage and birth records, passports, and prior immigration documents, and avoid making the principal's employment letter carry facts that belong in a dependent's record. If the added income or schedule change affects household planning, such as childcare or a spouse's own work arrangements, discuss that separately from the immigration authorization questions, since the two issues have different evidence and different decision points. A route of the spouse’s own generally depends on facts assembled in advance: an employer willing to petition, a listed profession the spouse personally qualifies for, or a study plan with its own authorization.